The house fire is considered suspicious and the two deaths are being treated as possible homicides, said Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer.

Former NFL quarterback John 'J.J.' Jones (Photo courtesy of N.Y. Jets)

The woman, identified as Rachel Kalebu, was found in an upstairs kitchen area of the house, Troyer said. She had moved to the United States from Uganda in 1971.

Fire crews were called to the scene at about 2 a.m., but the home was already engulfed in flames and firefighters were too late to save the two victims. The home is considered a total loss.

Rachel Kalebu's 23-year-old nephew, who used to live at the home as well, was detained for questioning about the blaze when he arrived at the home a few hours after the fire. He was later released, Troyer said.

Investigators said arson investigators were called to the scene because of trouble that brewed at the home last week. Troyer said deputies used a beanbag gun and Taser to arrest the nephew after his pit bull threatened people in the neighborhood.

Rachel Kalebu

The nephew told officers that he had been living in the woods near the home since the restraining order was issued, and said he had been in the woods during the fire.

"With that background going on in the last few days we're treating this as suspicious," Troyer said.

The nephew's mother said she is in disbelief.

"I don't think he could have done this," said Denise Kalebu.

But court records indicate felony harassment charges were filed against the nephew in April 2008 after he allegedly threatened to kill his own mother and smashed the family van. That case was set to go to trial on Aug. 6.

Court documents state that the nephew has mental issues but was refusing to take his medications.

The nephew's mother said he was very close to his aunt, Kalebu.

"She practically raised him," his mother said. "He's been here and she's been taking care of him all of the time."

Gladys Randolph, a sister, said Rachel Kalebu was an "exceptional lady." "She (had) a heart of God, Jesus, love of Jesus."

Jones' son Isa Jones, who lives in Albuquerque, said he'll never forget the sound of his father's voice.

"My dad never did anything but try to help everybody and anybody that he could. And now this has happened," he said.

Leonard Elion, who was at the scene of the fire on Thursday morning, said he was close to Jones.

"Certainly I've lost a very close friend," he said.

"J.J." Jones was the backup quarterback for Joe Namath when he played for the New York Jets in 1975-76. Jones also played for Tennessee State in his college years.