Human remains found at home in suspicious El Dorado County fire

Authorities have found the remains of at least two people inside a Garden Valley home found burned on September 13, 2015. The home belongs to a Benicia, CA family, Adam Buchanan, his 7-year-old son Gavin and Gavin’s mother Molly McAfee, who have been missing since September 11.

At 11 a.m. on Sept. 13, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office was called out to the 4600 block of Highway 193 to assist the Garden Valley Fire Department at a wildland fire in the 4600 block of Highway 193 in Garden Valley. While searching the area, it was determined that a residence had burned and the Coroner confirmed two person’s remains were located inside the burned residence.

The Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, has been working diligently on behalf of the victims located within the burnt structure. The Coroner’s Office has sent samples of the located remains to the California Department of Justice for DNA processing in an attempt to identify the remains. A possible third set of remains were located within the burnt residence, however, are still in the early stage of being examined.

The incident is being treated as a homicide and arson investigation at this time. The investigation is ongoing and more information will be announced once it becomes available.