Authorities have identified the remains found inside a Hughson home that ignited in fire Monday night, June 15 but have not determined the cause of death.
The deceased was identified by the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department as Delio Jorge Fernandes Silveira, 28. Sheriff spokesman Dep. Anthony Bejaran said the cause of death is still pending an autopsy.
The fire was reported shortly after midnight Monday at a residence in the 3100 block of Berkeley Road, just outside of Hughson city limits. Firefighters were extinguishing the fire inside the home when they discovered Silveira's body.
Investigators have not stated what caused the fire.
Mike Jorge, 27, a long-time friend of Silveira's, said the news of his death has stunned his loved ones.
"Everyone is devastated by this," Jorge said. "He was the one that everyone turned to for support and now he's gone."
Silveira moved from the Azores with his family at a young age and took an early interest in the dairy business his father established in Escalon.
"He was out milking the cows at a young age and he wanted to learn everything he could. From there he took on the responsibility of feeding the cows and by the time he was 12 or 13 he could run a dairy pretty damn good," Jorge said.
Silveira owned Railside Jersey Farms in Turlock and had recently moved into the Hughson home, Jorge said.
"He and I would talk about becoming successful dairymen one day," Jorge said. "It was his dream. He wanted to have a large herd and he wanted to do it all on his own. It was his business, but it was also the thing he loved."
Tyler Quiring, another long-time friend of Silveira's, said he had a reputation for being a "straight-forward" man.
"If he liked you, then he would do anything to help you," Quiring said. "You could ask for anything and he wouldn't think twice about helping you out. But if he didn't like someone, he didn't pretend. He just let a person know and that was that."
Silveira is survived by his mother and father, a brother and three sisters. A vigil and rosary is set for Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church at 2602 S. Walnut Road in Turlock.
