According to the Washington Blade Vilma Artis Butler was found dead in her home in Bowie, Maryland. Her neighbors called Police around 4:45 am the June 24th reporting that her home was on fire, they also said that they heard loud popping noises shortly before the fir started.

Vilma Artis Butler, a lesbian who lived in Bowie, Md., was found murdered in her home June 24. She was shot and the house set afire. (Photo courtesy of MCC)

When firefighters showed up at the Butler's house they quickly controlled the fire but found Butler's body badly burned. Even though her burns were severe that wasn't the cause of death. After an autopsy was performed on Butler's body it was concluded that she died of a gunshot wound.

Corp. Clinton Copeland, a Prince George's County police spokesperson, said police homicide investigators have no suspects in the case and are still seeking to determine a motive for the slaying.

Prince George's fire department spokesperson Mark Brady said fire investigators have classified the fire as "suspicious" but have yet to label it as arson. He said investigators have not disclosed whether they detected a flammable substance that might have been used to start the fire.

Channel 9 News reported that fire department sources disclosed that someone had turned off the emergency sprinkler system at the house before the fire broke out, leading some to speculate that someone intentionally started the fire.

Friends and relatives said Butler's 17-year-old son, Nick, one of three children from a previous marriage, lived with her in the Bowie house but was out of town visiting a friend at the time of the fire and the discovery of Butler's body.

Butler was an active member of the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, which has a mostly gay congregation.

There seems to be some confusion on if this was done by a stranger or someone who knew Butler. The police investigation is still ongoing even though the fire departments have ruled the cause of the fire arson.