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Mother, daughter killed in Mayfield Heights house fire

The fire occurred on Longwood Road early Tuesday.

MAYFIELD HEIGHTS -- A woman and her daughter were killed in a Mayfield Heights house fire overnight.

The fire started in the living room and spread to the second floor of the Longwood Road home early Tuesday.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has identified one of the victims as 41-year-old Rebecca Pletnewski. Her cause of death has not been determined.

The medical examiner also identified 8-year-old Olivia Schneider as the second victim. Her cause of death is also pending.

Mayfield Heights Fire Chief Bruce Elliot says during their investigation, a K-9 hit for accelerant on several samples leading them to call this potential arson. Those samples are being sent to Columbus for a positive test, with results expected next week.

Chief Elliot also confirms that a person of interest, who is an acquaintance of Pletnewski, is in police custody for questioning.

Fire crews responded to the blaze around 1:15 a.m. Both occupants were pulled from the house and were later pronounced dead.

Investigators have not determined how the fire started. A BCI Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene.

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