The brutalized bodies of four family members were found in the Florida home they rented from former tennis star James Blake after the mansion was intentionally set on fire Wednesday morning, police said.
The victims, two of whom were discovered with severe trauma, were identified as 49-year-old businessman Darrin Campbell, his wife, Kim, 51, and their children, Colin, 19, and Megan, 16, Tampa’s Fox 13 said.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Col. Donna Lusczynski described the fire as unusual and said there were “various fireworks” throughout the Tampa-area home.
“[Neighbors] reported that they heard explosions,” a police statement said.
Blake, 34, who was in Connecticut at the time, had rented the lavish, 6,000-square-foot home to the family, authorities said.
A former neighbor in Tampa said Darrin Campbell was the treasurer of the private Carrollwood Day School, which both his children had attended.
“They were a very nice family. We know nothing of any problems,” said the neighbor, George Connley. “The kids were outstanding children. This is very difficult to put our arms around.”
Two of the victims appeared to have suffered upper-body trauma, but Lusczynski didn’t indicate which ones or give any more details. She also said no weapons had been found, and that murder-suicide was a possibility.
The teens’ bodies were found in their respective bedrooms and the adults were found in a bedroom.
Darrin Campbell was formerly the senior vice president at PODS, a company that provides mobile, temporary shipping and storage containers.
He left PODS in 2007 and was a vice president at IVANS, an insurance company.
Former tennis standout Blake, a native of Yonkers, had been renting the home to the family for about the past two years.
He bought the home in the Avila subdivision in 2005 for $1.5 million, according to Hillsborough County property records. It had five bedrooms and five bathrooms.
Avila is an exclusive enclave known for its mansions and heavy security.
Many well-known athletes, such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, have called the community home over the years.