Athens County deputies spent Tuesday searching for a Columbus man after a body was discovered in the aftermath of an apartment fire in The Plains. The blaze, which broke out Tuesday morning on Cross Street, heavily damaged one unit and has turned the building into an active crime scene. The county coroner and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are working with deputies to identify the victim and pinpoint how the fire started.
What deputies say
According to the sheriff’s office, the body was found following a fire at 15 Cross Street, and surveillance footage later showed 35-year-old Andrew Joesph Martin walking away from the area toward Connett Road. Deputies say he appeared on camera around 9:30 a.m., making a phone call at Spices of Life in The Plains before leaving in an unknown direction. “We will continue to pursue those who attempt to evade law enforcement and the individuals who try to hide those wanted,” Sheriff Smith said, according to CW Columbus.
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