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Firefighters discovered Ericka Kramer's remains in the house at 2723 Zumbrum Road.
ANSONIA - A 22-year-old Ansonia man arrested for murder and arson over the weekend in connection to a fatal house fire in Darke County was one of the first firefighters to respond to the scene, according to authorities.
Sheriff Mark Whittaker told the Daily Standard Tuesday that murder suspect Peyton W. Beam was aboard one of the first arriving Ansonia fire engines on the scene Friday afternoon, and "made initial entry into the house with a hose to presumably extinguish the fire along with another firefighter."
First responders suspected foul play "immediately upon the discovery of the body," which Whittaker said has since been confirmed to be that of Ericka Kramer, 50. She had owned the home at 2723 Zumbrum Road and its surrounding farm land, just northwest of Ansonia, until Feb. 19, when it was sold to Brian Winner Farms LLC.
No further information on Kramer's exact cause of death was shared by press time.
Beam is a volunteer firefighter at the Ansonia Fire Department, owns a trucking company called Peyton Beam Trucking LLC, and was an employee at Kramer's agriculture business.
The first 911 call reporting Friday's house fire at 2723 Zumbrum Road came into the sheriff's office at around 12:30 p.m.
Responding fire personnel arrived on scene to find the home engulfed in fire. During firefighting operations, fire personnel discovered Kramer's remains inside the house.
Darke County Sheriff's deputies, the county coroner's investigator and the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office were then called to the scene.
She was transported to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for a forensic exam and testing. Darke County Coroner Dr. Susan Brown confirmed the manner of death as homicide not long after. It had been confirmed to authorities that Kramer was in the home minutes before the fire.
Beam was arrested Sunday for aggravated murder, an unclassified felony, and aggravated arson, a first-degree felony.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
He retained Dayton attorney Jon Paul Rion as counsel and has not yet entered a plea.
Beam appeared Monday before a judge during a video arraignment to the charges, at which prosecutors claimed Kramer had been shot multiple times before the fire was set, according to multiple media reports.
Beam is being held at the Darke County Jail on $5 million bond, with his next court date set for April 21.
Kramer was a native of Union City and a graduate of Union City High School who "owned, operated, and worked tirelessly on her farm," according to her obituary.
The Ansonia Athletic Department posted on its Facebook page to say it is saddened to hear of the passing of Kramer, who was Ansonia High School's varsity cheerleading head coach.
"Coach Ericka will be deeply missed. Please keep the Kramer Family in your thoughts and prayers. FOREVER A TIGER," read the post.
Whittaker said the investigation is ongoing, and "if any further crimes are discovered as part of this case those involved will be arrested and charged if evidence indicates."
The Ansonia Fire Department and the Village of Ansonia administration have fully cooperated, he added.
