IDENTITY OF MOTEL FIRE VICTIM RELEASED
By Miriam Raftery
March 3, 2016 (El Cajon) — The Medical Examiner’s office has identified Drake Lou Pappas, 61, as the victim found dead after a fire at the Villa Embasadora motel in El Cajon early yesterday morning.
Pappas was staying at the motel with his wife, a nurse who left for work on the evening of March 1st. Around 3 a.m., guests at the motel saw smoke coming from Pappas’ room and called 911 from a payphone in front of the motel.
El Cajon Police officers, Heartland Fire Department and the San Diego Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson personnel responded to the scene.
The body was discovered during fire suppression efforts. Cause of death has not yet been confirmed by the County Medical Examiner.
According to CW6, neighbors said Pappas smokes and was on oxygen, indicating that he and his wife had been staying at the motel since June.