Sources: 2 victims stabbed in deadly South Boston fire

BOSTON (WHDH) -- A death investigation is underway after two bodies were found inside a burned down apartment resident in South Boston Sunday.

A man and a woman were found inside the home after the fire was extinguished. Firefighters arrived at a housing development and found two bodies in a third-floor apartment. Sources told 7News that the victims were stabbed to death and drugs may have been involved.

“It wasn’t a fire, it was a murder,” said one neighbor.

The woman that lived in the apartment was well known and seemingly well liked.

“All the little neighborhood kids are out, she’d go by, big bag of those 25-cent Popsicles. Just give them out to all the little kids,” a Bob Ellis, a neighbor.

“She was pretty sweet. She always helped me bring up my groceries and she was really nice to my kids so she’s going to be truly missed,” said Michelle Feliz, a neighbor.

Feliz lives directly below where the first started. She rushed to get her children out safely. Feliz said the woman has lived in the apartment for years and the man moved in more recently.

“He was really nice. He looked like Santa Claus,” said Feliz.

“He'd dress up as Santa Claus in the wintertime and they'd ride around on their scooter and the little kids, they were like, ‘Mama, mama, there goes Santa Claus,’ and he'd say, ‘Yeah, he's out here watching you kids, making sure you're good,’” said Ellis.

Officials were back on the scene Monday to continue their investigation.

“It was a very quick and hot fire, it's a concrete building. Concrete ceiling, concrete floors,” said Steve MacDonald, Boston Fire Department.

The fire was contained to the third-floor apartment. Firefighters arrived at the housing development around 3 a.m. Sunday. Flames were raging in the third floor apartment.

“As they were doing the primary search looking for victims, they discovered the bodies of an adult male and adult female in the apartment,” said MacDonald.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Sources told 7News the two were stabbed to death; the woman was found on the sofa, the man was found in the bedroom. Investigators haven't confirmed if they died before or after the fire.

The Boston Police Homicide Detectives and investigators from the district attorney’s office continue their investigation.

Autopsy results have not yet been released.