Four bodies found in mansion owned by tennis star, James Blake

Four bodies have been discovered inside a burning Florida mansion owned by retired US tennis player James Blake.
Firefighters were called to the 5,800-square foot home at a private gated community in Tampa at about 6am on Wednesday when neighbours reported hearing a loud explosion. The first two victims were found immediately, officials said, while the others were found later as rescuers moved through the smouldering building.
Officials were unable to confirm the identities of the victims or reports that they had suffered gunshot wounds.
Blake, 34, was at home with his family in Connecticut at the time of the blaze, according to a spokeswoman for his Miami-based management company IMG. She told the Guardian he had rented out the property to the current tenants for about a year, but was unable to say if Blake knew them personally or whether it was a private let or through an agency.
Neighbours said they had not seen Blake recently and that the house was rented to a couple with two teenage children.
Debbie Carter, of the Hillsborough County sheriff’s office, said detectives had spoken to Blake this morning and that he was fine and “resting at home”. “It’s too early to say where the investigation might go,” she said. “The building’s in a dangerous condition and it might be tomorrow before we can even get inside.”
Property records show that Blake, a former world No4 and three-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist who retired from playing professional tennis last August after a 14-year career, bought the five-bedroom home in the north of the city for $1.57m in April 2005.
Large sections of the building were destroyed in the blaze, the cause of which could be remain unknown for days, according to the Hillsborough County fire department. Local media reported that petrol cans were found on the second floor and that a fourth body might have been found in the house in the exclusive Avila community, but officials said they were unable to confirm the reports or the identity of the three victims found earlier.
A lunchtime update from the sheriff’s office said fire crews reported seeing fireworks inside, but they were unable to say what kind they were, or where they were found.
Local media reported earlier that petrol cans were found on the second floor and that neighbours heard gunshots, although officials suggested that noise might have come from items exploding in the fire.
“Due to the magnitude of the structural damage caused by the fire, this investigation will be a slow, meticulous process,” Carter said in the statement.
“Detectives have not been in the residence and will not enter until such time Hillsborough County fire department has deemed the residence structurally safe. It is undetermined when that will be.”
She added that the Hillsborough County medical examiner would conduct the autopsies to determine the cause of death.
During his career, Blake reached the quarter-final of the US Open twice and just missed out on a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Although a former US singles No1, he enjoyed more success as a doubles player, partnering Mardy Fish to the Wimbledon semi-final in 2009.
Since his retirement, Blake, who is married with a daughter aged almost two, has focused his efforts on the James Blake Foundation, which supports cancer research. His father Thomas died of stomach cancer in 2004.
Blake’s agent, Carlos Fleming, is currently in Madrid attending this week’s Matua Open, and will make a statement “at the appropriate time”, a spokesman for the foundation said.
The Guardian.