PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- Authorities investigating an Oct. 25 arson that destroyed Aretha Franklin's mansion plan to ask the state Attorney General's office for help.
A meeting of police and fire officials and the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office Tuesday failed to produce a consensus on what, if any, charges could be issued, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said ``legal and factual complexities'' in the case prompted them to request an independent review and analysis by Attorney General Mike Cox's office.
Oakland County officials said they would offer no additional comment on the case until the state review.
Franklin, dubbed the Queen of Soul, lost her $1.6 million Bloomfield Township mansion in the Oct. 25 blaze, which authorities ruled as arson.
Franklin was subpoenaed and met with investigators in February. The 61-year-old singer was out of the state at the time of the fire.
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Andrew Mills (TNS)
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Photos courtesy of the Petaluma, CA, Fire Department
