    ACCORDING TO THE INITIAL POLICE INVESTIGATION, ON DECEMBER 23, 1996, ABT. 6:15P.M., A NEIGHBOR OF THE DECEASED SMELLED SMOKE AND OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DOOR OF THE DECEASED'S RESIDENCE.  HE RESPONDED TO THE DECEASED'S RESIDENCE AND FOUND THE HIM UNRESPONSIVE UNDER THE KITCHEN TABLE.  HE CARRIED HIM OUTSIDE OF THE RESIDENCE AND CALLED FIRE RESCUE.  FIRE RESCUE RESPONDED AND UPON ARRIVAL, FOUND HIM UNRESPONSIVE AND SUFFERING FROM BURNS TO HIS UPPER EXTREMITIES.  EMERGENCY TREATMENT WAS ADMINISTERED AND HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
    UPON ARRIVAL AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM, HE WAS UNRESPONSIVE, BUT COMBATIVE.  SOOT WAS IN HIS NOSE AND MOUTH.  INJURIES:  2ND OR 3RD DEGREE 10-19% BURNS, BILATERAL HEAD.  2ND OR 3RD DEGRE 10-19% BURNS, NOSE, HAND, LEFT UPPER EXTREMITY AND RIGHT UPPER EXTREMITY.  ESTIMATED TOTAL BODY SURFACE AREA BURNS WERE 12%.  HE REMAINED UNRESPONSIVE, B/P 90/68, AND PULSE 143.  TREATMENT WAS CONTINUED, HOWEVER, HIS CONDITION CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE AND ON DECEMBER 24, 1996, AT 6:47A.M. HE EXPIRED.
    HE WAS WHEELCHAIR BOUND FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND HAS A  PAST MEDICAL HISTORY OF CARDIAC DISEASE, ARTHRITIS, ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AND ASTHMA.  