Firefighters discover body after Montgomery County house fire

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX (KTRK) -- A man is found dead in his home after the house caught fire early Wednesday morning in Montgomery County. It happened on the corner of Saint Lawrence River Road and Forest River Circle.

"I just can't believe he's gone because I just talked to him the day before yesterday," said Katie Mahon who lives across the street.

When Mahon saw the flames from her front window, she feared the worst.

"No he cannot be in there."

But her friend was inside. She says his name is Scott McAlister.

"Just a good guy, I loved him. But I loved him because I understood him," Mahon said.

Neighbors say McAlister kept to himself, that he didn't leave home much.

Firefighters found the man in the bathroom, which led investigators to wonder: was he trying to escape?

"There are a lot of possibilities to try and nail down a one would be pure speculation," said Mike Legoudes Jr., Conroe Fire Marshal.

Kenneth Miller, who lives further down the street, said it was clear the home had been burning for a while. Investigators confirm that. No one seemed to see the blaze until it was too late.

"The house was burning for like two hours before the fire trucks got here," Miller said.

Investigators are working to figure what started the fire.