Wednesday, May 4, 2011
There are still many unanswered questions as to the death of 34 year-old Vashti Forrest-Seacat.
A new twist today in the house fire that killed a Kingman woman over the weekend. Yesterday, authorities said it was not a criminal investigation. Today, however, they're saying the case has been turned over to the Kansas Attorney General.
A police officer continued to stand guard at the home where Forrest-Seacat was killed Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the investigators appeared to have left.
"Kingman law enforcement and the Kingman County Attorney have asked the KBI and Attorney General's office for assistance in this case," said AG Spokesperson Jeff Wagaman.
But Wagaman went on to say that it is a "routine" investigation. The KBI's mobile crime lab was seen at the home throughout Sunday and Monday while investigators from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office and KBI meticulously combed through the property.
"There is nothing to prosecute," Wagaman said. "Right now, the attorney general's office is just assisting local law enforcement in the case. If there were to be something to prosecute, the attorney general's office would be involved in that."
No arrests have been made. Forrest-Seacat filed for divorce just two weeks before the fire. Her husband Brett was served the papers just two days before her body was found inside the house.
Brett Seacat is a former Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy, but left the department in 2008 to become a police instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson.
Wagaman says he has no information as to what started the blaze or how Forrest-Seacat died.
"An autopsy has been performed by the Sedgwick County Regional Forensics (Science) Center," he said. "However, results are not being released at this time."
Autopsy records in the state of Kansas are open public records unless they are part of a criminal investigation. KAKE News attempted to get the autopsy report through a records request Wednesday, but were told that it was not available.
A prayer vigil will be held at the home where Vashti Forrest-Seacat died. The vigil will be on Thursday at 6:30pm.
