From Roll Call:

(Tip of the Hat to blogger, Benjamin Howe)

Ashley Turton, former chief of staff to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and wife of White House liaison to the House of Representatives Dan Turton, was found dead in her car Monday morning, according to a source.

Turton worked as a lobbyist for the Raleigh, N.C.-based utility giant Progress Energy.

According to the D.C. Fire and Metropolitan Police departments, Turton’s car was discovered ablaze in a row house garage, presumably the Turton home, in the 800 block of A Street Southeast near Eastern Market.

Metropolitan Police Lt. Nicholas Breul said there is a joint investigation into the cause of the accident. Homicide detectives have been called to the scene.

“This could be just a tragic freak accident,” Breul said. “And that’s why we’re crossing our i’s and dotting our t’s because it is a little freaky, and we need to figure out why. But there is no indication now that there was any crime.”

Neighbors said the fire started about 5 a.m. Breul said fire officials were at the scene two minutes after neighbors dialed 911. When the fire was extinguished, firefighters discovered Turton’s body inside the car.

Family members are still being contacted.

At 9 a.m. Monday, two fire trucks were at the scene in addition to nearly a half-dozen police cars. Neighbors and passers-by stood outside as police continued to survey the wreckage in the garage attached to Turton’s home.

Police said there was a heavy fire in the garage that caused significant damage to the car, which was still parked in the driveway and looked singed. Fire damage could also be seen on a corner of the brick home.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Progress Energy and Duke Energy are currently merging.  Upon completion, that new company will be the largest utility in the United States.

A D.C. fire investigator takes photos of a burned-out BMW in a garage on the 800 block of A Street Southeast on Monday morning. Ashley Turton, former chief of staff to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and wife of White House liaison to the House of Representatives Dan Turton, was found dead in the car, according to a source.

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