By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
ATHENS (WATE) - McMinn County sheriff's investigators say a Monday fire may be arson, and it's not the first time they've been called to the business that caught fire.
The fire was at Strikers' Premium Winery on County Road 172 in Athens.
In 2000, Patty Striker was found shot to death inside the winery. Her death has never been solved.
The fire at the winery damaged a large portion of the building. Investigators say they're trying to determine if the fire was started intentionally.
"It did look suspicious," said Sheriff Joe Guy. "It appeared there might be some accelerant around the decking, around the front door and the building has sustained outside damage."
Sheriff Guy says he called in state arson investigators to look at the property. He's unsure how long it will take for them to arrive.
"It depends," said Sheriff Guy. "They are like the rest of us. They don't have much staff. They are in another case today."
Sheriff Guy says along with the arson investigation, they're also looking at any connections to Patty Striker's murder. Striker was found shot to death in the main office of the winery, and the cash register was taken.
Striker and her husband, Stanley, opened the winery five years before her murder.
Sheriff Guy says he continues to search for Patty's killer.
"During my administration, we have looked at some leads that have come up, nothing directly related to this fire, but that is always the case," the sheriff said. "I was a deputy back then and was at the crime scene. It's important to me personally that we get on that."
Sheriff Guy says nothing right now is connecting the two incidents, and nothing was stolen from the property Monday.
Stanley Striker still lives next door to the winery. A woman who answered the door said they had no comment about the fire.
If you have any information on this fire or the murder of Patty Striker, call the McMinn County Sheriff's Office at 423-745-5620.
Strikers' Premium Winery caught fire on Monday, February 20.
