The Boulder County Coroner's Office on Thursday afternoon identified a man found dead following a structure fire on Monday at a makeshift living space alongside a Longmont electrical services business.
The coroner's office stated in a news release that it has conducted an autopsy on Richard Benz, 56, but it is continuing to investigate his cause and manner of death.
Longmont police Cmdr. Joel Post said in an email that Benz had been living in the makeshift living area, which he described as being 10 feet by 10 feet in size and constructed of various pieces of wood and wood pallets.
"Investigators learned there were electrical extension cords extending from the main building at this address into the area Benz was temporarily residing," Post said. "There were electrical space heaters inside the shed where the fire occurred and where Benz had been residing."
Post said Benz was an employee at the business.
The owners of AAA Electric have not responded to requests for comment, but Post said employees of the business were aware Benz was staying in the structure and that there were electrical cords running from the main building into the living area.
Colorado Bureau of Investigations records indicate Benz was a registered sex offender who had listed AAA Electric, 24 S. Main St., as his residence.
According to online records, Benz had a 1997 conviction in Boulder County for sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust. He also had a conviction for failing to register as a sex offender in Weld County from 2008.
Longmont police and fire responded to the business on a fire report on Monday evening and found Benz's body after extinguishing the blaze, which destroyed a nearby vehicle and damaged the adjacent building.
"This case remains under investigation, which will be conducted by a Longmont police detective and fire investigators from the Longmont Fire Department," Post said. "These investigators will attempt to determine the origin and cause of the fire." ..Source.. by John Bear
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