TRAGEDY IN BURLINGTON: A Fire, Explosion, Homicide and a Fractured Family

BURLINGTON -  Police say that a house explosion in Burlington in mid-May that reportedly killed three people, was intentionally set, and there was further evidence of "foul play." 

On May 14, investigators and fire staff were able to locate three deceased individuals at the scene of a house explosion on 29235 Ketterhagen Rd. and were unable to identify them due to their injuries.

Those individuals were transferred to the Milwaukee Medical Examiners Office and subsequently identified through dental and DNA records as 17-year-old Nicholas J. Chaulkin, 41-year-old Craig A. Lambert and 43-year-old Kimberly S. Howe.

Witness statements obtained by investigators confirmed that the home was on fire well before it exploded and reported seeing flames coming from the first floor. 

According to the Racine County Sheriff's office, evidence at the scene indicated the intentional removal of an LP gas line in the basement allowed the home to fill with gas and explode upon ignition.

Investigators learned that Chaulkin sustained a gunshot wound to the back of the head prior to the fire. His death was ruled as a homicide by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office.

Investigators learned that Howe and Lambert were recently involved in a domestic dispute and Lambert was being kicked out of the residence. 

Police say Howe and Lambert had been dating and living together for several years at the Ketterhagen address. Prior to the incident Kimberly Howe had been staying at a local hotel with her son Nicholas in order to get away from Lambert. 

Investigators were able to establish that just prior to the fire Howe was on her way to the Ketterhagen address with her son Nicholas. 

Howe placed a phone call to a witness indicating that she was on her way to ensure Lambert was packing his belongings and leaving the residence, which was the final phone call placed by Howe concluding at 2:31 p.m. on the day of the fire, sheriff's officials said. 

The first reports of a fire at the Ketterhagen address came into the Racine County Communications Center 45 minutes later at 3:16 p.m.

Although sheriff's officials say the exact series of events that occurred on May 14 may never be known, based on the totality of information obtained throughout the investigation, police believe that Lambert is responsible for the death of Chaulkin, Howe, and the subsequent fire and explosion.