Lowell woman's death investigated as a homicide

LOWELL, Mass. (AP) -- Authorities say the death of the 60-year-old Lowell woman found by emergency crews investigating a report of smoke coming from her apartment is being investigated as a homicide.

A spokeswoman for the Middlesex district attorney says Angela Aponte was found suffering from "obvious injuries" when firefighters were called to her apartment inside a Lowell Housing Authority building just before 10 a.m. Saturday. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Firefighters also found smoke coming from the stove in Aponte's apartment, but did not have to extinguish a fire.

The Sun of Lowell reported that the state Medical Examiner has custody of the body to try to determine a cause of death.

Police reported no arrests as of Sunday night.