Arson suspect confirmed dead in Guangdong house fire

GUANGZHOU -- A man suspected of killing five other family members and then setting a house on fire in South China's Guangdong Province has died, local police said Friday.

A preliminary investigation showed that six people died in the residential house fire in Jingdu town of Chaonan District in the city of Shantou on Wednesday morning.

Among the six dead, five had knife wounds and showed no symptoms of smoke inhalation. Police said injuries by sharp objects caused the deaths. The suspect had no wounds and died from asphyxiation.

Police said the suspect killed the five family members because of strained relationships with them, committing arson later.