An apparent suicide and two Monday morning house fires within a mile of each other appear to be related, Hanover County authorities believe.

Firefighters responded around 8:40 a.m. to a fire at 6384 Shea Tree Circle in Cherrydale West subdivision. About a half hour later, another fire was reported at 8027 Vaughan Drive in Dogwood Knoll subdivision, less than a mile away.

In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Hanover Sherrif’s Office spokesman Chris Whitley said a body was found in the detached garage on Shea Tree Cirlcle after firefighters extinguished the blaze there.

The house on Vaughan Drive was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Both homes are owned by Robert W. Hayes Jr. and Lora N. Hayes, according to Hanover Circuit Court Clerk Records.

Physical evidence at the scene of the Shea Tree Circle fire indicated suicide as the cause of death, although the final determination will be made by the office of the state medical examiner. The name of the victim has not been released.

“It seems clear that these incidents are directly related to one another,” said Whitley in the release.

Neighbor Charles Paulus said the garage reignited Monday night and firefighters returned to extinguish the blaze at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.