The Fredonia Police Department has identified 54-year-old Walter Winchell, Jr. as the man found dead in an apartment fire on Temple Street.
On December 15th, Fredonia Fire and Police responded to a reported fire on 60 Temple Street. Firefighters entered the apartment and found Winchell dead on the floor. The fire was put out and the Chautauqua County Arson Investigation was called to the scene.
Officials say Winchell was on an oxygen tank due to a medical condition and was also a smoker. The cause of the fire was ruled careless smoking.
