Richard D Swickard

The Newton Police Department officials believe a man who was found dead in his burned home Monday morning may have killed himself.

Lt. Eric Murphy of the Newton Police Department said investigators are proceeding under the assumption that injuries Richard D. Swickard, 65, who was found dead in his home at 1628 Hillcrest, were self-inflicted.

Police and fire investigators also believe Swickard may have started the fire that burned his home. Swickard was in the midst of a divorce, Murphy said, but investigators did not know if that contributed to Swickard’s actions.
Newton Fire/EMS was called to the house about 5:35 a.m. Monday. A passerby, who lived at 1525 Morningside Road, called in the two-story structure fire on his way to work.
By the time fire crews arrived on the scene, the house was engulfed in flames.

Neighbors said Swickard lived in the house alone with his dog. Swickard was deceased when he was removed from the residence, according to fire and police reports.
The cause of the fire still is under investigation.
The Newton Fire Department, Newton Police Department and the Kansas Fire Marshall’s Office are investigating the fire.