Darke County, Ohio — A house fire in Ansonia that left a 50-year-old woman dead has now been officially ruled a homicide, following a multi-agency investigation and a recent arrest tied to the case.
The incident began on April 10, 2026, when the Darke County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at about 12:29 p.m. reporting a residential fire at 2723 Zumbrum Road, northwest of the Village of Ansonia, Ohio.
Fire crews from Ansonia Fire Department, Ansonia Rescue, and other assisting agencies arrived quickly and found the home already fully engulfed in heavy flames. The intensity of the fire made entry and search operations difficult.
During the response, firefighters discovered the body of an adult female inside the residence. Deputies, a coroner’s investigator, and the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office were later called in to support the investigation at the scene.
Authorities believe the victim is Ericka M. Kramer, 50, the resident of the home. Investigators said she was inside the house just minutes before the fire started. Her final identification is still pending additional forensic confirmation.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office conducted examinations, and Darke County Coroner Dr. Susan Brown officially ruled the manner of death as homicide, escalating the case into a criminal investigation.
On April 12, 2026, detectives arrested Peyton W. Beam, 22, of rural Ansonia, in connection with the fire and death investigation. He is currently being held in the Darke County Jail facing anticipated charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson.
Authorities say the investigation is still active as they continue gathering evidence to determine the full sequence of events that led to the deadly fire and the death inside the home.
