Body found inside burned house identified

HITCHCOCK, Texas – A body discovered inside a Hitchcock house that caught fire was identified as the homeowner.

Firefighters got a call about the fire on Terrebonne near James around 9:10 a.m. Monday.  Once the fire was put out, firefighters found a body inside the first home.  The body was badly burned and taken to the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

The medical examiner said dental records confirmed that the victim was Estelle Holmes, 66, a longtime member of the Hitchcock school board and a political activist.

The fire is under investigation, but fire officials do not suspect foul play.