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Woman's body found inside fire pit in Worcester

(Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)

WORCESTER, Mass. — A woman's body was found inside a fire pit outside her Worcester home on Saturday evening, Masslive.com reports.

The woman has been identified as 71-year-old Jacqueline Cardinal, whose body was found by her son-in-law.

Worcester fire officials responded to the incident on Heard Street, but declared Cardinal dead on scene from severe burns, a preliminary investigation suggests.

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The Worcester Deputy Fire Chief Martin Dyer said the fire was out when firefighters arrived at the home.

Cardinal was home alone when she fell into the fire pit.

Family and friends are devastated upon learning of the death of the mother of four.

The incident is being treated as a fire-related death, but the state's medical examiner will determine exactly what caused Cardinal's death, authorities said.