Authorities now are saying they believe the three victims of a mobile home fire in Dorr Township Tuesday were shot and killed befre the blaze was started.

Corey Lee LaValley, 34, was arrested Tuesday night in connection with the deaths of the three victims. Allegan County Sheriff’s detectives took LaValley into custody Tuesday evening with the assistance of the Charlotte Police Department and the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office. He has been brought back to Allegan County to face formal charges that could be filed as early as today.

The victims, Debra Sheppard and her kids Emma McComber and Corey LaValley Jr., were discovered inside a burning home at 2360 Briarwood Ave. in Dorr Township around 1 p.m. while firefighters with the Dorr Township and the Salem Township Fire Departments were on the scene.

The names of the victims will be released after autopsies have confirmed their identities. Those autopsies are scheduled for this morning.

The victims appear to be one adult female and two children, one male and one female. LaValley has been said to be the father of one of the two children. The boy was a fifth-grader at Hopkins Elementary and the girl was a sixth-grader at Hopkins Middle School.

Fire Marshal investigators with Michigan State Police remain on scene conducting their investigation and detectives from the sheriff’s office continue follow up on the case.

More details will be released when they are made available from investigators.

PHOTOS: Corey LaValley Sr.

(From left) Debra Sheppard, Emma McComber and Corey LaValley Jr.

(Photos supplied)