BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — The suspect in a residential fire and homicide that happened Dec. 27, 2022, on Laurel Drive, has been identified as 34-year-old Cody Alan Hurt.
Hurt appeared in Calhoun County District Court on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, and is charged with homicide-open murder.
Hurt is accused of murdering his 61-year-old father, Randall Hurt, whose body Battle Creek firefighters found when they responded to a home fire in the 200 block of Laurel Drive on the evening of Dec. 27. Both men lived at the Laurel Drive home.
After arriving on scene, the Battle Creek Fire Department brought the fire, which had spread throughout the first floor of the two-story home, under control within 30 minutes. During the response, firefighters found a person lying on a couch in the front, living area of the home. They discovered the victim had already died.
Battle Creek Police were called to the scene to assist in the investigation and helped identify the victim as Randall Hurt. During the investigation, Randall Hurt was found to have multiple injuries that were not consistent with injuries usually suffered in a fire. Several hours after the incident began, investigators identified Cody Hurt as a person of interest. Detectives determined that Cody Hurt had committed an act of domestic violence, resulting in the death of his father.
One BCFD firefighter sustained injury at the time of this incident, however was treated at and released from Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. During the course of the investigation, a dog was also retrieved by the BCPD animal control unit. The pet was not harmed, and was removed from the scene for shelter and care.
The fire investigation has shown the origin of the fire to be located in the back, laundry room area of the home. Michigan State Police were also called to the scene to provide an accelerant dog to assist in the investigation.
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***PREVIOUS NEWS RELEASE INFORMATION FROM DEC. 28***
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Battle Creek fire and police departments are jointly investigating a residential fire that led to the discovery of a homicide at the same residence, which occurred Tuesday evening on Laurel Drive.
Battle Creek Fire Department was dispatched to a fire inside of a residence in the 200 block of Laurel Drive at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27.
BCFD arrived on the scene to a two-story residential structure to find fire had spread throughout the first floor, with heavy fire concentrated at the rear of the residence. The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes of BCFD arriving on the scene. During fire suppression, and search and rescue tactics, a victim was found lying on a couch in the front, living area of the residence. When the victim was removed from the residence by BCFD, he was already deceased.
Battle Creek Police were called to the scene to assist in the investigation. The victim was identified as Randall Hurt, a 61-year-old resident of Battle Creek. During the investigation, Hurt was found to have multiple injuries that were not consistent with injuries normally sustained from a fire. Several hours after the incident began, investigators identified a person of interest. Detectives determined that the person of interest was a relative and had committed an act of domestic violence, resulting in the death of the victim. The suspect is currently lodged at the Calhoun County Jail and open murder charges will be submitted to the Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
One BCFD firefighter sustained injury at the time of this incident. The BCFD firefighter was treated for care and released at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. During the course of the investigation, a dog was also retrieved by the BCPD animal control unit. The pet was not harmed, and was removed from the scene for shelter and care.
The fire investigation shows the origin of the fire to be located in the back, laundry room area of the residence. Michigan State Police were also called to the scene to provide an accelerant dog to assist in the investigation.
This BCFD/BCPD joint investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Battle Creek Police Department at, 269-781-0911, or Silent Observer at, 269-964-3888.
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