Man Found Dead Inside Lower Valley RV After It Goes Up In Flames

A 29 year-old man was found dead in a Lower Valley RV Friday morning. Investigators with the El Paso Fire Department think an early morning fire may have been to blame.

Firefighters were called out to the scene on the 7900 block of San Jose at around 6:30 a.m. The RV was parked dangerously close to a home where the Chavez family was sleeping.

Freddy Chavez told ABC-7 he woke up to heavy flames and smoke coming from the RV. “I panicked,” he said. “Me and my dad were just throwing water at the fire but when we got there, it was already too late.”

Chavez said a couple had been living in the RV. “I know (the dead man’s) name is Michael and the girlfriend’s name is Amanda,” he said.

The Fire Department confirms a woman in her 30’s was taken to the hospital from the scene with non life threatening injuries.

Chavez said that woman was inside the RV at the time but managed to escape. “She was in shock you know? Just crying. She told me she tried to wake (her boyfriend) up and tried to put him outside but she couldn’t,” said Chavez.

So how did the couple end up in the RV in the first place? Chavez said they’d been homeless. “My dad found them behind a Wal-mart asking for money,” he said. He added that his father offered the couple the RV as a place to stay. It was supposed to be a warm place to sleep. Now black, burned blankets lie in a heap next to the scorched motor home.

“They were nice people, you know? I just saw him yesterday. Now he’s gone,” said Chavez.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Firefighters were able to put out the flames in about 10 minutes. The Chavez’s home next door only sustained some fire damage to the roof.