On September 7, 1998, 41-year-old Darlene Rice died after a residential fire at 328 Warren Drive in Springfield, Ohio. Firefighters from the Springfield Fire Division responded about 4:15 a.m.; the blaze consumed the entire house and a vehicle parked beside it. Darlene was found inside a second-floor bedroom and later identified by authorities.

After investigation, her death was ruled a homicide. The exact cause of the fire and how it became fatal for Darlene remain under investigation, and no suspects have been identified. The Springfield Police Department, with involvement from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, continues to classify the case as suspicious and is asking the public for tips.

If anyone has information about Darlene, the early-morning fire, the vehicle beside the house, or other details from that day, please contact the Springfield Police Department or use anonymous tip services.