Dewayne Block (provided photo)
HOMER, N.Y. — Authorities have identified the man who was killed in a fire that ripped through a historic building in the village of Homer last week.
Dewayne Block, 81, of 23 S. Main St., Homer, has been "tentatively identified" as the body recovered from the scene of the fire on Sep. 2, according to the Homer Police Department.
"Further testing and comparison is being conducted to confirm the identity which may take a period of time," the Homer Police Department said in a news release Friday.
The blaze destroyed the historic Wheadon Block building in downtown Homer, taking with it a law office, a beauty salon and several apartments. The building was constructed in the 1840s.
Brian Bermudez, who also lived in the apartment building, was charged Saturday with second-degree manslaughter in connection with Block's death. He has also been charged with unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine, though authorities have not yet confirmed that last Friday's fire was caused by a meth lab explosion.
"The Homer Police Department, the village of Homer and all the agencies involved with this tragic incident would like to offer their sincerest sympathy to the Block family," the department said.
Bermudez remains in Cortland County Jail on $250,000 cash bail. A future court date in his case has not been scheduled.
