Photo by Meghan Christine Fuson.
Photo by Meghan Christine Fuson.

The person that was found dead following an explosion that leveled a home in Gurnee last month has been identified by the coroner.

On September 8 at around 6:05 p.m., the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Gurnee Fire Department, along with other fire departments, were dispatched to a house explosion in the 36400 block of Streamwood Drive in unincorporated Gurnee.

When first responders arrived the entire house was leveled and fully involved in fire.

Photo by Vini Nambiar.
Photo by Vini Nambiar.

It took crews almost two and a half hours to extinguish the fire because of an active gas leak from a ruptured natural gas line. Shortly after the fire was extinguished, there was a body located inside the debris of the residence in the basement, officials said.

The Lake County Coroner’s Office and State Fire Marshals were called to the scene.

[Suggested Article]  'Absolute travesty': Gunmen charged with murdering 2 victims 'for no reason' as they walked on sidewalk in Waukegan

On September 11 an autopsy was performed by the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said that a preliminary autopsy report indicated that the victim had died from smoke inhalation. The coroner said that there were no dental records available to help in identifying the victim so DNA testing was necessary.

On October 10, Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said that DNA testing revealed that the victim was Boris Slaskin, 59, of Gurnee.

“Our sincerest condolences go out to Mr. Slaksin’s family. We hope this news will help bring closure to this terrible tragedy,” Dr. Cooper said.

Authorities said that six other houses were damaged by debris from the explosion. A female occupant of one of the houses sustained a minor injury from falling debris inside her residence, sheriff’s officials said. She was treated and released at the scene.

[Suggested Article]  2 armed men allegedly attempted to carjack victim at grocery store, fled from police in Round Lake Beach
Photo by Heather Paige
Photo by Heather Paige

Several people had reported to Lake and McHenry County Scanner that they felt the explosion from several miles away.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been released by the State Fire Marshal. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 847-549-5200.