The fire-related death of the 46-year-old founder of online shoe and clothing retailer Zappos has been ruled accidental by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Tony Hsieh, who recently retired as the Las Vegas-based company's CEO, had been visiting with family in New London when he somehow became locked in a storage area of the back of the house, where a fire broke out just before 3:30 am on. November 18.
The radio transmissions from New London's emergency personnel indicated a person was barricaded in a room in the residence, at 500 Pequot Avenue. But, Monday afternoon, in a press release, New London Police clarified some of what actually happened on that frantic Wednesday morning.
"Upon arrival on the scene, emergency services personnel observed dark smoke emanating from the back of the residential structure," wrote Capt. Brian Wright.