Case Closed on Fatal Minong Fire

The Washburn County Sheriff’s Office has wrapped up an investigation into a fatal fire in Minong in December. 

Police have ruled that 37-year-old Gerold Featherly’s death was a suicide. 

Authorities say Featherly was under the influence of drugs at the time of his death. An autopsy revealed he had methamphetamine and Amphetamine in his system when he set fire inside of a home and refused to come out. 

The incident happened on December 8 along Bass lake Road in the Township of Minong.  Police responded to the home on reports of shots being fired around 11:30 p.m.  

When they arrived, they heard more gunshots and observed Featherly with a knife breaking out windows to a building. 

Two females fled from the home and told police he was setting the building on fire.  Featherly ignored repeated commands to come out of the building, instead setting multiple fires inside. 

Police say he died as a result of asphyxiation secondary to carbon monoxide poisoning.