Journal-News
HAMILTON, Ohio — The owners of the Pater Avenue home where a Hamilton firefighter was killed Dec. 28 while battling a fire say they will never be able to return there even if repairs are made.
“My wife won’t live there again, and I don’t blame her after the firefighter was killed there,” said Lester Parker, 66, of Hamilton.
Parker, speaking exclusively with the Journal-News, said that he and his wife, Bertha, sent flowers to Patrick Wolterman’s funeral, but have not yet reached out to his family.
Wolterman, a 28-year-old firefighter who joined the Hamilton Fire Department Department on April 25, died from injuries he sustained when he fell through the first floor of the Parkers’ two-story home into the basement while battling a fire on the morning of Dec. 28. Hamilton police are investigating Wolterman’s death as a homicide since the house fire has been ruled an arson.
The Parkers had left their home headed to Las Vegas to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary just hours before the fire started around 1 a.m. Lester Parker said he has no idea what happened the night of the fire or if someone could have broken into the house. A police officer responded to the home that day because an ADT security alarm had been activated, and a cellar door in the house was reportedly open when police and firefighters arrived, finding heavy black smoke.
“I had my house locked up tight, and there was nothing left on,” Lester Parker said.
He said there is a door to the basement, but one cannot gain access to the rest of the house from the basement.
Lester Parker said the 1310 Pater Ave. home was owned by his father who moved to Hamilton in 1950, the year he was born.
“At one time, it was the nicest house on the block,” he said, noting there is a large deck and a covered patio area in back.
Lester Parker said it was very frustrating to be called about the fire and not be able to get home for a few days.
“It is a mess,” Parker said of the burned-out home. “We want to fix it up and sell it.”
Hamilton police announced earlier this week that the reward leading to the identification and conviction of the person, or people, responsible for the arson has been increased from $10,000 to $25,000.
Police said the initial reward amount generated a significant number of leads that detectives are busy following. But the hope is the extra reward money will generate more leads.
The extra reward money was made possible by several private donors and businesses organizations in the area, according to Police Chief Craig Bucheit.
Anyone with information on the Pater Avenue fire is asked to contact Hamilton police detectives at 513-868-5811 ext. 2002, or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
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