'How did you guys miss my brother?': Milwaukee woman claims more should have been done to save her brother from fire

Updated: 9:34 p.m. on April 9, 2025

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee woman has questions after her brother was killed in an apartment fire Tuesday that is now being ruled as a homicide.

Debra Nash says her family is devastated and demanding justice, sharing concerns about how fire officials responded.

"If my family had not entered that building, my brother would probably still be lying dead in that building," said Nash.

Nash says she was worried about her brother, Sam Nash, on Tuesday, when he hadn't answered her call. She said he finally answered his phone around 2:20 p.m.

"He said 'I'm sorry little sister, I love you,'" said Nash. "I had a doctor's appointment, but I'm home now."

Also, around 2:20 p.m., Milwaukee police say a fire broke out at an apartment complex near 30th and Capitol, which is where she says her brother lives on the third floor.

When she heard about the fire, she said she rushed to the scene right away.

"You know, pretty much panic, like, where's my brother," said Nash. "I don’t see my brother. Where's my brother?"

Once at the scene, she said she asked officials to check on her brother inside and said officials told her the scene was clear and everyone was out. CBS 58 spoke with the Milwaukee Fire Department around 3:30 p.m. and they confirmed two people were removed from the building and no one was taken to the hospital.

"To receive that kind of sense of relief that the building was clear and not have to think about my brother being in there. and then receive a call later on to say he was in there," said Nash. "Come on, what's missing here."

She said the scene was cleared and later her nephew went to his dad's apartment to go check on him around 4 p.m. and found his father, 71-year-old Sam Nash, unconscious on the floor.

"How did you guys miss my brother?" said Nash. "How could that happen? That's like, awful."

The Milwaukee County medical examiner report says Sam Nash was pronounced dead at the hospital at 5 p.m., around three hours after the fire broke out, ruling it a homicide.

Milwaukee police ruled the fire suspicious and are actively searching for a known suspect.

The family says they want the person who did this to be held accountable.

"Now I have a shattered family," said Nash. "Everyone is shattered because we are all in disbelief. No one thought that would happen."

CBS 58 reached out to the Milwaukee Fire Department multiple times asking questions about their response to the fire and clearing the scene. MFD responded, saying it's an ongoing investigation by both the Milwaukee fire and police departments. MFD says they cannot provide additional details because it's an active investigation.

Updated: 9:07 p.m. on April 8, 2025

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office says a victim of an apartment fire near 30th and Capitol died at an area hospital Tuesday.

Initial reports indicated that no residents were transported for treatment, however Tuesday night police confirmed they are investigating the fire after Milwaukee firefighters located a deceased resident inside the residence. 

Milwaukee police say the victim is a 71-year-old, who family identifies as Sam Nash.

"It's a tragedy you know, something that could've been prevented," said Leona Lee, whose brother lives across the street. "I hope they find him you know, everything gets squared away because someone lost their whole life over something that was senseless."

MPD says the cause of the fire is suspicious and police are seeking a known suspect. 

Charges are pending review. An investigation remains ongoing.

Posted: 7:35 p.m. on April 8, 2025

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Multiple residents are displaced Tuesday night after a fire at an apartment complex near 30th and Capitol.

Officials with MFD say the call came in around 2:20 p.m. when a fire broke out on a first-floor unit.

Two people were removed from the building and evaluated on scene. 

American Red Cross of Wisconsin says they're currently assisting those impacted, and a shelter has been set up at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Anyone in need of assistance may call 1-800-RED CROSS. 

The fire remains under investigation.