Portola Home Fire Investigated for Homicide, Suicide, and Arson

The Plumas County sheriff’s office is suspecting a Portola Home fire to be an attempted homicide/suicide, and arson after finding a burned body in the debris. Around 1am yesterday multiple 911 calls were coming in reporting a home was up in flames on 3rd ave. multiple agencies responded from Beckwourth, Eastern Plumas, Graeagle, and Sierra Valley along with the sheriff’s office. The home was cleared of the people who lived there, Christian Taylor and her son who made it out with minor burns. Ms. Taylor told deputies the fire was started by her estranged husband, Kevin Taylor. A sheriff’s investigator and CalFire Arson investigator began to search for evidence of homicide and arson while deputies searched for Kevin Taylor though he was unable to be found. A body was discovered on the front porch of the home during investigations where the fire was believed to have been started. The sheriff’s office has not been able to confirm the body was that of Kevin Taylor but they are led to believe it is him. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the identity. If you have any information you can call the sheriff’s office at 283-6300.