Florida police are admitting the fire that tore through the home of former tennis star James Blake early Wednesday morning was intentionally set, apparently to cover up the murder of a family of four whose bodies were also recovered at the scene.
According to CNN.com, the bodies of two adults and two teenagers were found in their respective bedrooms and positive identification of each of the victims is now expected to take at least several days. The website adds at least two of the bodies showed signs of upper body trauma.
James Blake home destroyed by fire
"We have confirmed that the fire was started intentionally by an unknown accelerant," Hillsborough County Sheriff Col. Donna Lusczynski told reporters. Several media outlets have also reported investigators found high-powered fireworks riddled throughout the residence.
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The 34-year-old Blake, who rose as high as No.4 in the world at one point in his lengthy career, was not at home at the time of the blaze and reportedly had been leasing the property to the family for at least the last year.
Authorities were called to the 6,000-square-foot home around daybreak and arrived to find the home totally engulfed by flames, with neighbors informing them they simply heard a loud explosion.
"Due to the magnitude of the structural damage caused by the fire, this investigation will be a slow, meticulous process," the sheriff's office said.
Blake won 10-career titles and was voted Comeback Player of the Year in 2005.
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