Tri-Cities widow ID’d as the victim of Finley home fire

A 65-year-old woman has been identified as the person who died in a manufactured home fire in Finley this week.

An autopsy Friday confirmed the identity of Evelyn Craig, who lived at the East 403 PR Southeast home , said Benton County Coroner Bill Leach.

They also were able to confirm that she died as a result of the fire.

The damage to the home was so severe that investigators haven’t been able to determine what started the fire, Sheriff Tom Croskrey told the Tri-City Herald. They are continuing to investigate.

Craig lived at the home for more than 20 years, according to public records. She owned the home with her husband, Gerald Craig, who died in 2022.

Officials say a woman, reported to be Craig’s caretaker, was working in the yard and may have been caring for some chickens when she noticed smoke coming from the home about 5:40 a.m. Wednesday.

She told fire officials she couldn’t get inside to help Craig because of the intense smoke and heat, said Jenna Roberts, the Benton County Fire District 1 public information officer.

Investigators found Craig on the floor about a foot from an exit door.

It’s unclear whether there were working smoke alarms in the home.