Elderly man found dead in fire at Macon home

Family members and neighbors of Willie Gross clasped hands in a prayer circle early Friday after learning of his death.

Smoke rising over Winston Drive alerted Gross’ neighbors to a blaze at his house.

Just after 7 a.m., Flavia Ringwood’s neighbor came knocking on her door, thinking Ringwood’s house was on fire from the way the neighbor saw the smoke.

They realized the smoke was coming from Gross’ home at 1854 Winston Drive.

“It just hurts my heart because I knew somebody was in the house,” Ringwood said.

She called 911 to report the fire and immediately went over to Gross’ house and tried to alert him, but his screen door was locked.

“I tried to start banging on the door to see if I could get any kind activity, or hear any activity in the house,” Ringwood said. “I started to see little flames coming from the back side of the house.”

When fire crews arrived, neighbors told them there was likely someone inside since Gross’ truck was in the car port.

Once firefighters broke through a porch window, they began the search, but didn’t find initially find anyone in the bedroom, Asst. Fire Chief Shane Edwards said.

Another crew headed to the kitchen, where the fire likely started, and found the 74-year-old, he said.

Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones said Gross was badly burned and was found dead in a kitchen chair.

He was pronounced dead by Deputy Coroner Lonnie Miley at 8:10 a.m.

Johnny Chappell, who lives across the street, said Gross was an early-riser.

“He gets up every morning early and he comes out and sits on the porch,” Chappell said. “He really looked out for the neighborhood.

Brandi Lawson, who also lives across from Gross, said she will miss seeing him.

“I used to see him walk to the mailbox every morning,” Lawson said.

An autopsy will be performed to determine how Gross died, Jones said.

Macon-Bibb County fire investigator Sgt. Steve Wesson said the cause is under investigation, but the kitchen does appear to be the place of origin.

The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office also is investigating as a matter of routine, but Lt. Randy Gonzalez said foul play is not suspected at this time.

Come back to macon.com for updates and read Saturday’s Telegraph.

This story was originally published July 28, 2017 at 9:59 AM with the headline "Elderly man found dead in fire at Macon home."