Bridgeport, Alabama — The quiet evening on 6th Street turned tragic when a house fire led to the discovery of 52-year-old Lisa Russell’s body inside her burning home. What began as a routine emergency call quickly became a murder investigation that has shaken the small community.
Firefighters and law enforcement arrived at the scene Wednesday evening after reports of a residential fire. Once the flames were brought under control, investigators made the grim discovery inside the house. Authorities later confirmed that Russell had died as a result of foul play, turning the case from a fire investigation into a homicide probe.
Jackson County Sheriff Rocky Harnen confirmed that the situation escalated quickly once evidence suggested the fire was not accidental. Investigators began treating the scene as a crime scene while trying to piece together what happened in the moments leading up to the blaze.
Officials identified 62-year-old John Dunagan as a suspect shortly after the incident. According to authorities, Dunagan fled the area before law enforcement arrived at the home. His movements were later tracked through neighborhood security footage.
Investigators say surveillance video showed Dunagan in the area, and he was later spotted a few blocks away from the scene. A tip from a local resident helped deputies locate and arrest him without further incident.
Dunagan has since been charged with murder as the investigation continues. Authorities have not yet released additional details about the circumstances that led to Russell’s death, saying more information will come after further forensic work.
Russell’s body was transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy. Officials say the results will help determine the exact cause and manner of death as investigators work to establish a clearer timeline of events.
In Bridgeport, residents are struggling to process the loss. Friends and neighbors describe Lisa Russell as a familiar and valued presence in the community, now remembered in the middle of an unfolding criminal case that has left many searching for answers.
