WALDOBORO — The state Medical Examiner's Office Friday confirmed that the man who died inside Pinkham's Auto Repair and Tires in a fire April 24 was the shop's owner, Jeffrey W. Pinkham, and that he died by committing suicide.

The body of Pinkham, 53, was found by firefighters in the basement of the shop, while they were working to extinguish the blaze that destroyed the building. The shop had a basement pit in which workers could stand under vehicles to change oil.

Pinkham’s truck was found inside the burned building.

Pinkham's Auto Repair is located on Route 1 in Waldoboro, and the fire was called in just after 5 a.m. that Friday. Initial reports were that nobody was inside, but the investigation took a turn when the body, which was burned beyond recognition, was located.

According to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland Friday, identification of Pinkham was made through DNA evidence.

"The death was ruled a suicide," said McCausland in the press release. "Fire Marshals say the cause of the fire was arson. Investigators think Pinkham started the fire in the early morning hours last Friday and then shot himself in the basement in the former gas station on Route 1."

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Reached Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com