On Thursday, the Lunenburg County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fire at 4199 Fort Mitchell Drive in Lunenburg County and found the deceased body of Donald F. Roark, of Drakes Branch.

The sheriff’s office received a call from the Mecklenburg County 911 Center on Thursday around 10:20 a.m. about a fire that had been reported, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.

“Lunenburg sheriff deputies, the Chase City and Boydton fire departments and the Victoria Fire Department responded,” stated the release.

After arriving on scene, a Mecklenburg deputy sheriff and volunteer firefighter entered the house and found Roark, 74, of 250 CC Lane in Drakes Branch. “The body has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond to determine the exact cause of death,” the release stated.

No other people were found at the house, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Two neighbors stated they heard a gunshot and went over, and noticed the house was on fire, one attempted to use a water hose on the fire, and the other called 911,” stated the release. “According to Lunenburg District Court records, on Feb. 12, Mr. Roark was the subject of a protective order granted to a woman with whom he had been living (with) for more than 18 years. According to the affidavit, they had been separated for about a month. She alleged he came to her house … beating on the doors trying to enter, but left afterwards. She also reported that a tire had been cut on her car and one on her truck on a previous date.”

According to the sheriff’s office, the house appears to have been destroyed by the fire.

The sheriff’s office is investigating the incident.