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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, June 6, 2009

Woman may have set fire that killed her


By Mary Vorsino
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

A woman who died in a Makiki house fire in April that also killed a 58-year-old man apparently started the blaze.

Police declined to directly implicate 38-year-old Khristy Ray Sasaki Bartlett in the April 23 fire, but confirmed they have completed their investigation without making any arrests and are not looking for any suspects.

Bartlett's death is still listed as an "unattended death." Larry Fair, a computer repairman, also died in the fire and his death was listed as a homicide.

"The case is closed," said Maj. Frank Fujii, Honolulu Police Department spokesman.

"We have closed the homicide case and an unattended death case. We are not looking for any suspects."

The news didn't come as a surprise to Larry Fair's son, Joshua, who said he had concerns about Bartlett's behavior.

"It was what we assumed had happened," Fair said. "It doesn't change anything. It doesn't bring my dad back."

Bartlett and Larry Fair were tenants in the three-story, five-bedroom Mauna Place home that burned down in a raging early-morning blaze visible for miles. Bartlett's body was found in an upstairs hallway and Fair was discovered in his room.

The two, who the city Medical Examiner determined died from smoke inhalation, lived in the home along with three other renters, the owner of the home, H.R.H. Fleur, and her daughter and grandson. The Fleurs were at home when the blaze started, but escaped without injuries.

The three other tenants were not home.

Fleur, 77, said she never suspected Bartlett could be dangerous.

"We had a good relationship with her," said Fleur, who has relocated to California in the wake of the fire.

Joshua Fair said he met Bartlett once and did have some concerns about her stability.

"There had been some concerns before that, but nothing that really seemed imminent," he said.

Witnesses have said there was an argument over a stolen moped before the fire started. The argument was apparently between Bartlett and Fair. Fleur has said the argument was fueled by alcohol and marijuana.

"It was a big relationship mess," she said, after the fire. At one point Fleur's grandson also was involved when, witnesses said, Bartlett suspected him of stealing the moped. The moped belonged to Bartlett's estranged husband, Stephen, who visited Bartlett frequently at the home, Fleur has said.

Efforts to reach Stephen Bartlett were unsuccessful.

Police declined to comment on whether the argument was related to the arson.

The deaths are the only two house fire deaths this year on O'ahu.

No one was killed in house fires in 2008. Two people were killed in 2007.