SEATTLE — The deaths of a woman and two children whose bodies were found after a house fire in Wallingford over the weekend have been ruled homicides by the King County Medical Examiner.
On Saturday, Sept. 2, two children and two adults were found dead in the house, along with a dog.
On Wednesday, the King County Medical Examiner identified the victims as 4-month-old Valentina Ragusa, 7-year-old Sebastino Ragusa and 40-year-old Lana Stewart.
The medical examiner found that 48-year-old Salvatore Ragusa died of smoke inhalation and acute asphyxia in the Sept. 2 fire. His manner of death was ruled a suicide.
Stewart died of multiple sharp force injuries while the children died of smoke inhalation, according to the King County Medical Examiner.
Seattle police said officers responded to a home in the 1000 block of North 48th Street at around 9 a.m. for a reported shooting. Police said an 11-year-old child escaped the home, contacted a neighbor, called 911 and reported that there was a deceased person in the house.
Police said officers arrived on the scene within five minutes but could not enter the home and reported that it was engulfed in flames.
“It was an unusual kind," said John Zitkovich, a neighbor. "It wasn’t just accidental; it was such a deliberate taking of lives and that I think is disturbing to people.”
SPD's Homicide Unit is leading the investigation.
Stewart's family released a statement saying Salvatore suffered from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, "which heavily affected the home."
The family described Stewart as "a loving mother who tried her best to keep peace within the house" and an "affectionate, talkative, nurturing personality."
"One of her favorite things in life was being a mother. She would find comfort in knowing that [her 11-year-old daughter] is being surrounded with an immense amount of love and soon to be adopted by family," the family wrote.
The family set up a GoFundMe to help with the surviving child's recovery and education. To donate, click here.
According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Ragusa pleaded guilty to two charges of domestic violence in 2020; second-degree reckless burning and third-degree malicious mischief.
As part of the guilty plea, he had 24 months of supervision. He also had to follow a treatment plan and surrender weapons, as part of standard Mental Health Court conditions.
This case was closed on Feb. 8, 2022, after he was in compliance with the supervision and treatment mandated by the Mental Health Court.