Dec. 31--Police confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the body found inside a Brown Deer home gutted by fire was that of educator Ronn Johnson.
The cause of the fire as well as the cause of death have not yet been determined, Brown Deer police said. Officials are waiting for the autopsy report and toxicology results, which could take two months or longer.
Johnson's body was found badly burned, and authorities initially could not confirm the victim's identity or even gender.
The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office conducted the autopsy. Brown Deer police are leading the investigation into the fatal fire.
Johnson, 47, an ex-charter school leader and former Milwaukee Public Schools teacher, was charged earlier this year with nearly two dozen felonies in a child sex abuse case. Johnson was out on bail after being accused of abusing five children of varying ages from 1991 to this year.
Johnson's attorney, Rodney Cubbie, said in an email that he had no information to share.
The fire at Johnson's home at 8581 N. 63rd St. began about 5 a.m. Monday. North Shore Fire/Rescue was assisted by seven fire departments in battling the flames in the freezing weather.
Johnson's body was found in a front room of the house during a secondary search of the structure, officials said, and the body was removed Monday afternoon.
North Shore Fire/Rescue, the Milwaukee County medical examiner's office, the state fire marshal's office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting Brown Deer police in the investigation.
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