A man dies due to arson
On a Monday in March of 1982, the quiet of a Virginia Beach neighborhood was broken by the response of the fire department to a house fire in the 200 block of Green Springs Court. Inside the home, firefighters discovered Frederick Wells Sr., a 48-year-old white male, who had suffered severe burns over 80 percent of his body.
Mr. Wells was rushed to Norfolk General Hospital for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and died 24 hours later. An exhaustive investigation by police and fire officials revealed a sinister truth behind the blaze; the fire had been intentionally set. This finding led authorities to classify Mr. Wells' death as a homicide.
Further examination by the State Medical Examiner's Office uncovered another layer to the tragedy. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound, revealing that Mr. Wells had been shot before the fire was started. The case of Frederick Wells Sr.'s murder remains an active investigation with the Virginia Beach Police Department's Cold Case Homicide Unit. To date, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with his death.
