The man who died in a Statesville house fire earlier this week has been identified.
William De Giovanti Shalima Watkins, 68, succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the fire at 1305 Old Charlotte Road on Tuesday.
Firefighters found Watkins in the rear of the abandoned home.
The residence had been vacant for several months and was boarded-up at the time of the fire.
The blaze has been ruled as accidental.