THE father of serial killer Steven Grieveson died in his blazing bedsit despite efforts to save him, an inquest heard.
Terence Grieveson, whose gay son murdered three teenagers and burned their bodies, was found unconscious on the floor of his home in Hudson Road, Hendon, Sunderland, in March this year.
Fire crews tried to revive him but Mr Grieveson, 52, died in the city's Royal Hospital.
The cause of the blaze was probably a carelessly discarded cigarette, dropped on the settee, the inquest heard.
Coroner Martin Shaw, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, said it was known Mr Grieveson was a heavy smoker and drinker.
Steven Grieveson is serving a life sentence for murdering Thomas Kelly, 18, David Hanson, 15, and David Grieff, 15, in Sunderland in 1993 and 1994
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