Police ID woman found after house fire

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - Albuquerque Police said the elderly woman found dead in a house fire over the weekend was the homeowner, Juanita Adams, 84.

APD is still waiting on the autopsy report to learn how she died.

The first broke out early Saturday morning at her home on Lexington Ave Northeast near Juan Tabo and Candelaria.

Arson investigators are still working to determine the cause.

Neighbors told KRQE News 13 the home had become a hub of activity recently with aquantinces of Adams' son who lived with her there.

"A lot of different vehicles all hours of the night, lot of crap going on," said Jim Bride.

This is not the first time the home has come under scrutiny in fact it has been on the city's radar since 2010 when the safe city strike force was called by neighbors.

"With regards to some hoarding and minimal housing issues," said Joe Martinez.

Adams gave KRQE News 13 permission to go inside her home in 2011 to see just how bad things had gotten. At that time neighbors were asking the city to help them clean it up.

Martinez said over the years inspectors were called out to the house at least a dozen times and during one of those visits they did more than just check for code violations.

"We got adult protective services involved cause we were genuinely concerned over her well being," Martinez said.

Even so Adams moved back into the home with her son last August.

Martinez said that's when the house had finally come up to code and despite their concerns they could not keep them from moving back in.

"When she was able to articulate and demonstrate that she could take care of herself, we pretty much got to stand back," said Martinez.

According to online court records Adams' son has a long criminal record including drug and drunk driving charges.

APD said at this point no charges have been filed in the death or the fire.