Body Found in Debris of House Fire Identified

HAWTHORN WOODS, Ill. (WLIP) — Authorities have identified a body discovered in the aftermath of a weekend house fire in suburban Chicago as 73-year-old Sherman Della.

The blaze erupted Saturday afternoon in the 0-100 block of Rosewood Drive in Hawthorn Woods. Lake Zurich firefighters arrived around 3:10 p.m. to find the house engulfed in flames.

The victim’s body was found Sunday as investigators and excavation crews searched through debris and pumped water from the basement, seeking the fire’s origin point.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed Della’s identity through dental records.

An autopsy was conducted Tuesday, with results pending further studies, including toxicology tests and carbon monoxide level analysis.

Multiple agencies are investigating the incident, including the Hawthorn Woods Police Department, Lake Zurich Fire Department, local fire investigators and the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office.