Woman's death following a January arson fire now being investigated as a homicide
Cameron MacCuish | CBC News | Posted: May 12, 2025 7:00 PM | Last Updated: 18 hours ago
78-year-old died from injuries more than a month after Jan. 13 house fire
Edmonton police are working to identify a suspect in the January arson of a home that resulted in the death of one of its occupants.
Fire crews were alerted to the house fire, near 118th Avenue and 122nd Street, just before 5 a.m. on Jan. 13. Susan Harlan, 78, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
She died on Feb. 28. An autopsy concluded last week that she died of complications of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation, according to a news release from Edmonton Police Service.
Police determined the house fire in west central Edmonton was caused by arson, and are now investigating Harlan's death as a homicide.
A 70-year-old man was also in the home at the time of the fire but was able to escape unharmed. Police said both Harlan and the man lived in the house and were family members.
EPS is seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect who was captured on camera.