Tuscaloosa Police Suspect Foul Play After 2 Found Dead in Burned Home

Police in Tuscaloosa now believe foul play is involved after two people were found dead in a burned home in Holt Wednesday afternoon.

In a Friday morning press release, Captain Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit said officers were called to a home on Garber Street in Holt late Wednesday afternoon on reports of a fire in a mobile home there.

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Kennedy said family members had tried to reach the victims for several days before finding their home burned down. County sheriff's deputies discovered the remains of two people inside the debris, both of whom were sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for identification and autopsy.

Kennedy said the fire was never reported to first responders of law enforcement when it was burning, but investigators believe it took place sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

:Based on facts gathered during the initial stages of the investigation and the findings from the autopsy, the deaths have been determined to have been the result of foul play, or criminal acts," Kennedy said.

So far, one victim has been identified -- 42-year-old Eric Shane Hatter, who lived at the address. The second victim has not been positively identified at this time.

"This case in under active investigation, and at this time, we do not believe there is any danger to the area or community," Kennedy said. "We ask anyone who has any information on Eric Hatter or his residence, to please contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (205) 464-8690."