PLANTATION, Fla. – As those who knew Dr. Karen Ruthman mourn her loss, Plantation police have made no public conclusions regarding the death of the family practice physician pulled from her burning home Thursday.
The fire broke out at around 3:45 a.m. at her 12350 NW 23rd Court home in the city’s Plantation Acres neighborhood that she shared with her husband, fellow physician Dr. Barrington Murray.
Ruthman would be pulled from the home and later pronounced dead.
Patients showing up Monday at Murray’s OB-GYN practice were turned away. There were people inside, but no one came to the door.
Patient Jkavia Robinson, an expectant mother, said she didn’t know Ruthman, but described Murray as “nice, sweet and always happy.”
“I’m pretty sad for him,” Robinson said. “You know, he is really a good person.”
Police have said Murray was not home at the time of the fire, which investigators believe began in the kitchen.
Authorities said they are questioning several people in this case. They are not speculating on any theories publicly, only calling the case a “death investigation.”