The 32-year-old daughter of a former Glen Carbon fire chief was slain before a fire gutted her efficiency apartment in north Granite City, police said Thursday.
An autopsy of Amy Abram's charred body revealed a head wound and other injuries.
"The evidence points to her being dead when the fire was set. We don't think she suffered from the fire," said Granite City Police Chief David Ruebhausen.
Abram lived alone on public assistance for about six months in a 225-square-foot apartment. Her apartment was attached to a storage building behind a house at 726 27th Place.
She was the mother of a 4-year-old daughter, who did not live with Abram in the apartment. She was the daughter of George Abram, former Glen Carbon fire chief.
A homicide investigation by Granite City Police and an arson probe by state fire marshals are under way.
"We have collected evidence at the scene, including parts of the floor to check for accelerants," Ruebhausen said.
No suspects had been taken into custody Thursday afternoon. Detectives are investigating about 40 leads that have surfaced since the fire broke out at about 4 a.m. Wednesday, Ruebhausen said.
Abram was last seen alive before midnight Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Granite City Police at 877-6111.
Abram's autopsy revealed "among other injuries, trauma to the head," said a report issued Thursday by Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn.
"The head trauma, in our opinion, was not consistent with any type of accident," the police chief said.
Ruebhausen said the autopsy showed no smoke in Abram's lungs, indicating she was not breathing when the fire broke out.
The coroner declined to give additional information until a pathologist completes post-autopsy tests and files a report.
A coroner's inquest into Abram's death will be scheduled after all autopsy reports are completed.
A family member declined comment at the request of police. Funeral arrangements were pending Thursday at Irwin Chapel in Glen Carbon.
Abram was arrested on charges of battery in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2003.
Distributed by the Associated Press
