Authorities in Lapeer County are investigating a suspicious house fire after the owner reported that more than 400 exotic animals and about $20,000 in cash were missing from the property.
Firefighters were called to the home on Pratt Road, near Greens Corner Road in Hadley Township, during the overnight hours of Saturday, October 3. The Hadley Township Fire Department said nobody was inside when the blaze broke out.
The fire has been deemed suspicious and remains under investigation. Officials are assessing the damage to the property, which the family believes may be a total loss.
The homeowner, who has not been named, told local media that he believed somebody had broken into the house and taken the animals and money. The missing creatures reportedly include alligators, turtles and snakes.
It has not been established publicly whether the animals were stolen, escaped during the fire or were otherwise accounted for. Investigators have not announced any arrests or identified a suspect.
The family is also expecting another child, adding to the disruption caused by the blaze and the loss of their home.
Hadley Township is in south-western Lapeer County, about 60 miles north of Detroit. Local authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the fire and assess the damage.
