The person who was found deceased in a home where a fire had been reported on November 21 has been identified as Indumathi Chilukuri, a 71-year-old female Whitewater resident, Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer told The Whitewater Banner. Meyer indicated that no other person of interest has been identified. Per Ryan Dion, assistant fire/EMS chief, the origin and cause of the fire, which had nearly self-extinguished upon the department’s arrival, is being investigated by the Walworth County Fire Investigation Team as a possible arson. If it is determined that there is a potential that a crime occurred, the investigation will be turned over to the police department. The Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office declined to provide the Banner with any information regarding the decedent, including the cause of death. A previous Banner article provides further details from the initial reports.

The incident occurred at 505 Ventura Lane on the city’s west side. According to the recently issued 2024 Walworth County property tax bill, the property is in the names of Chilukuri Rao and Chilukuri Indumathi. It is unclear as to why the reported first and last names of the decedent are reversed from those on this document.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com