5 Restaurant Workers Killed In Novi House Fire Were From Mexico

NOVI (WWJ) - Police say five restaurant co-workers found dead in the basement of a burning Novi home were from Mexico.

Novi Public Safety Director David Molloy released more details Monday — a day after the five men were killed in the fire believed to be linked to careless smoking and a mattress.

Molloy said it would have been difficult for the victims — all believed to be in their 20s or 30s — to escape the basement with glass block windows and no ventilation.

"The chemicals and the carbon monoxide comes from that, particularly in an enclosed area like that, there would've been enormous flashover from the flames," he said. "Depending on their physical state, it could've contributed to the fact that they weren't able to get out."

Autopsies Monday found all five victims died from smoke and soot inhalation, and one of them suffered burns. The Oakland County Medical Examiner ruled the deaths "accidental."

Nearby resident Julie Hamway said she doesn't think anyone in the neighborhood knew there were five people living in the basement of the house, on Mystic Forest Dr., near 9 Mile and Novi roads.

"You know, we live in a really small neighborhood, so the first thing (I thought) was, OK, it's just a house then and that's OK, because that call can be fixed," Hamway said. "But then there's people involved, and more people involved and it's very scary. The whole thing was really scary, and sad."

All five victims worked at Kim's Garden, a Chinese restaurant in Novi Town Square on Novi Rd.

Molloy said police were working with both federal immigration officials and the Mexican consulate in Detroit to learn more about the victims and to determine if they were in the country legally.

He said investigators are also trying to figure out if there's any connection between ownership of the house and management of the restaurant.

"We're currently working with the owner, manager who we also believe had either an operating interest in the restaurant and/or was renting or owned the home on Mystic Forest," Molloy explained. "We still have additional follow-up to conduct with him and his family."

A sticky note on the door at Kim's Garden Monday morning announced that the restaurant was closed due to a power outage.

The victims' names have not been released as the investigation continues.

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