There were no working smoke alarms in the Punta Gorda home where an elderly couple were found dead. Authorities were called to the home by someone who’d stopped by the property in the 300 block of Sorrento Court, and found something wrong. Firefighters say there was a fire sometime in the last 24-hours at John and Carol Fitzmaurice’s home, but it had already burned itself out. There was heavy fire damage in the home. Punta Gorda fire officials say any of their customers who doesn’t haver a smoke detector should call them: (941) 575-5529. The deaths are being looked into by Punta Gorda Police, the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Charlotte County Medical Examiner’s Office.
