EL DORADO ? An autopsy determined that a woman found dead last week in her fire-damaged home in Benton was not killed by the fire, Butler County Sheriff Craig Murphy said.

The body of Carol Mould, 43, was found Wednesday after passers-by noticed a fire in the home. Officials at first thought her death was an accident, but the autopsy determined otherwise, the sheriff said. The fire is believed to have been set in more than one place in the house after the woman’s death.

“It was probably an attempt to burn the residence down, which greatly failed,” Murphy said.

The sheriff said during the weekend that there was no evidence of a struggle.

Asked whether there was any sign of forced entry or robbery, Murphy said an item missing from the home was later found elsewhere.

Douglas Mould, the victim’s husband, said the item had her name on it and had been in her purse.