CAIRO - Two women found dead after a house fire earlier this week in Cairo were shot to death, authorities announced Wednesday.

Beatrice Barber, 29, of Cairo, and Eva Hill, 27, of Charleston, Mo., were found dead in the residence at 628 E. 27th St. after a fire late Monday morning, according to the Alexander County state's attorney's office and Illinois State Police.

Both women died of gunshot wounds, police said Wednesday.

Illinois State Police crime scene investigators and Cairo police continued to gather evidence at the home Wednesday. Those agencies, the state's attorney's office and the state fire marshal's office have been working together on the case since the fire was extinguished.

A state police investigator has said fire damage has made investigators work slowly and methodically. Both bodies were reportedly burned, but flame damage to the small, wood-frame house was limited.

Police did not release additional information Wednesday, saying the investigation continues.

Anyone with information is asked to call Illinois State Police District 22 at 618-845-3740 or Cairo police at 618-734-3933.

thomas.barker@thesouthern.com

618-351-5805