DETROIT – Detroit police are investigating the deaths of two people after their bodies were found inside a vacant home on the city's west side.
Andy Maldonado, 26, and Mariah Rasnick, 24, were found shot to death and burned inside the home. Police said it appears Maldonado was shot in the head.
"I was terrified to find out, yes, it was him, and kind of disappointed," said Alicia Maldonado, Andy Maldonado's aunt.
She said she got the news that her nephew and his girlfriend were killed.
"What did they get themselves into?" Alicia Maldonado asked. "What happened that they ended up disappearing? Next thing you know, they're in a whole different side of town -- dead."
The police said the two had been missing for a couple of days. After their disappearance, Rasnick's apartment was set on fire. Arson investigators are searching through the debris.
"When they were at the location, they discovered shell casings, bullets and blood," said David Levalley, Detroit police deputy chief.
Police found Rasnick's van, also torched, then they were called to a fire at an abandoned house on Mettetal Street.
"Then we fast forward to that night," Levalley said. "We have a fire on Mettetal Street near Tireman. After the fire department extinguished it, we found two victims in the back door."
Andy Maldonado's brother and cousin said their family is grieving the loss of the couple.
Police will be reviewing security-camera footage from a nearby light pole as part of their investigation.
Police said one of Rasnick's relatives was convicted last week in the homicide of a Detroit fire department member, but they don't believe this murder and arson are connected to that case.
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