Body believed to be that of missing man found inside his burned Auburn home

AUBURN, Wash. -- A body believed to be that of missing homeowner Kevin Holle was found Tuesday inside his burned Auburn home, police said.

"Auburn detectives along with Valley Regional Fire Authority were able to finally make safe entry into the burned home and make a search.  It is with sadness that we report that a deceased body was recovered from inside the home," Auburn Police Commander Steve Stocker said.

"Auburn detectives along with Fire investigators continue to investigate the cause of the fire.   A medical examiner is enroute to take custody of the body.  At this time we do not know the cause of death and do not have any further information to release.  It is believed that the body is that of Mr. Holle but that has not been confirmed," Stocker added.

The house fire along Hazel Ave SE in Auburn started at about 3 a.m. Monday and flames could be seen shooting 20 feet into the air. It took firefighters around 40 minutes to put it out. They are not sure if anyone was in the home because the flames made the house too unstable to enter.

Neighbors say one man lived in the house, and they believed he was out of town at the time. But a truck and motorcycle were still in the home, and family members were having trouble contacting him.

There also appeared to be a hose coming out of the gas tank of the truck and a gas can nearby as if someone had been siphoning fuel.

That will also be part of the investigation, police said.