Deadly house fire in Coden

CODEN, Ala. (WALA) - Bayou La Batre Fire Rescue put out a deadly house fire this morning on Satsuma Street in Coden, Alabama.

Family members said 64-year-old William Ladnier and his 8-year-old Chihuahua, Little Man, were both killed in the fire.

Firefighters were called to the home on Satsuma Avenue shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday.

The wood frame home burned to the ground as firefighters worked to put out the flames.

Firefighters had been told someone might have been trapped in the home. When investigators searched the home, they told FOX10 News they found a body in the bathtub.

The Fire Marshall was called in to investigate. He arrived shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday and continues to investigate the cause of the fire and Willie’s death.

Family members of Willie Ladnier said he never met a stranger and was always ready to listen.

“He was always smiling. Always,” said Willie’s niece, Jacquilyn Wright.

Wright, who lives next door called police for help.

“(Dispatcher) was like you have to call 911. I said, ‘I can't call 911. We need help. My uncle's in a burning house.’ And the next thing I knew, everybody was here,” said Wright.

Wright said fire officials found her uncle in the bathtub, clutching Little Man.

“Where the dog was, he was. You never seen Little Man without Uncle Willie,” said Wright.

Wright said she was close to her uncle.

“It’s kind of messed up if you ask me. I don't know which way to really turn -- that was where I went every day, and now I don't have over there to go to anymore,” said Wright.

Ladnier's family said he'd been sick and showing signs of dementia, just the other night he got lost in Florida.

“Don't ask me how (it happened.) I guess he got side-tracked or whatever, but they got him home at 12:30 and this happened at 3:53 this morning,” said Wright.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized by the family.