State police ID man, 80, found dead after house fire in Mathews County

Mathews County — State police are investigating a house fire in which an 80-year-old man was found dead Sunday in Mathews County.

The blaze happened around 7:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Gayle Lane, police said in a news release.

Police identified the man Wednesday as Richard Henry Couch, of Mathews County, after notifying his family.

Police could not confirm whether the man was alive before the blaze started. Officials also did not say what caused the fire.

The Mathews County Sheriff’s Office asked the state police’s crime investigation and arson unit to investigate the fire.

Sierra Jenkins, 229-462-8896, sierra.jenkins@virginiamedia.com