Photo: Murray City Police Department

Utah woman Morgan Kay Harris died on Saturday after a fire broke out at a storage facility. (Murray City Police Department)

A 27-year-old Utah woman and her dog were found dead in a storage unit Saturday after the woman’s boyfriend allegedly locked her inside and left, leaving her no way to escape when a subsequent fire broke out.

Employees at a neighboring car wash noticed the fire breaking out, according to the outlet, and called for help. When the responders arrived, they found six storage units on fire, including the one the woman was locked in.

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Utah woman and her dog die in storage unit fire after jailbird boyfriend locked them inside

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and it is not yet clear if Wardell was the one to have started it.

According to ABC4, Wardell has a lengthyhistory with the law, having been convicted on more than one occasion for incidents involving domestic violence, going as far back as 2013.

“Thank you so much for your generosity and supportive words,” wrote Harris' mother, Laurice Williamson. “Not having the stress of finances does help us deal with the tragedy somewhat. We are also trying to make a difference in how the legal system handles violent criminals- so that innocent people like Morgan may be saved. I so appreciate every dollar and every word.”

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Harris' family members did not immediately respond to a request from PEOPLE for comment.

source: people.com