On Tuesday May 31, 2022, at approximately 9:09 PM, multiple calls were received by 9-1-1 advising of a residential structure fire in the 1900 block of Center Road in Novato.  The Novato Fire Department in addition to multiple other First Responders were immediately dispatched to the scene and upon their arrival they located a fully engulfed structure fire to the rear in a secondary unattached residence on the property.  It was learned the structure had been occupied by two occupants at the time of the incident.  One occupant was able to escape the residence but was badly injured. He was transported by paramedics from the scene to an area hospital for treatment.  Regrettably the second occupant was unable to evacuate from the residence having incurred significant injury.  Upon firefighters’ arrival they completed an immediate interior search of the residence, locating the subject unconscious and unresponsive on the second floor.  He was rescued and extricated from the residence to the driveway and provided emergent resuscitative aid.  Despite their efforts the subject failed to respond to treatment and his death was pronounced on the scene. The circumstances and origin of the fire remain under active investigation by multiple agencies with no conclusions available at the time of this writing.

The decedent has been positively identified as:                                           

John Matthew TURLEY, a 39-year-old male  from Novato, CA.

A forensic postmortem examination with toxicology testing is being completed later this week.  The cause and manner of death will be pending the conclusion of the investigations being completed by the Novato Police Department, Novato Fire Department, Marin County Fire Investigations Team (MCFIT) and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office - Coroner Division.  No further information will be released by the Coroner Division at this time, as this is an active and ongoing investigation.  Any further questions regarding the incident should be directed to the Novato Police Department.

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office and personnel of the Coroner Division offers our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Turley.

CONTACT

Roger G. Fielding

Chief Deputy Coroner

 415-473-6043