Police: Walton woman found in burning house shot herself; fire was intentionally set

By Julia Reischel
2/21/13 - 6:02 pm

One of the two people found dead in a burning house on a dead-end road in Walton on Tuesday was 48-year-old Debra S. Sundstrom, according to a press release from the New York State Police.

A forensic pathologist at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton has found that Sundstrom's death was a suicide, and that the method was "a gunshot to the head," the release states. 

The press release also states that the fire that engulfed the house as investigators arrived on the scene was "incendiary in nature" and has been ruled an arson. 

The identify of a second body found in the house has yet to be identified.

According to the Daily Star's police blotter, Sundstrom had recently been arrested: She was charged with five counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree on January 28.

The investigation by the New York State Police, the Delaware County Fire Investigation Team, and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control is ongoing. 

Read the full press release from the State Police below:

On February 20, 2013, Dr. James Terzian, Forensic Pathologist at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, New York conducted a post mortem examination of both sets of human remains. At this time, one set of human remains has been identified as Debra S. Sundstrom, (01/04/65) 1884 S. River Rd. Walton NY, with the manner of death being suicide and cause of death being a gunshot to the head. Identification of the second set of human remains, as well as manner and cause of death is pending. The cause of fire was determined to be incendiary in nature and has been ruled an Arson. The New York State Police were assisted at the scene by the Delaware County Fire Investigation team and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control. Investigation is continuing.

Click here for our collected coverage of the Sundstrom murder-suicide story.