Death investigated after fire in affluent Covina neighborhood

COVINA, Calif. (KABC) -- Detectives were investigating the death of an elderly woman after a mysterious house fire in Covina on Friday.

Fire officials said the blaze sparked in a room toward the back of a home in the 20900 block of East Mesarica Road at about 2 p.m.

Crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded and put the fire out. That's when the woman's charred remains were discovered.

The fire was under investigation by detectives with the sheriff's homicide bureau and investigators with the department's arson/explosives detail.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed the woman's death was being investigated as a homicide.

"Nobody else was found inside the residence with our victim, but I just can't give out any more details at this point," Lt. Steve Jauch with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Officials said their investigation was ongoing.

Anyone with information about the fire was urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.