It could take weeks or even months before Bedford County officials determine the cause of a weekend fire that destroyed a Smith Mountain Lake home owned by a man charged months ago in the death of his estranged wife.

Fire Marshal John Jennings said it is unclear at this point whether the fire was suspicious or accidental.

The home, according to county real estate records, is still owned by Wesley Earnest, a former high school administrator charged with first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, Jocelyn Branham Earnest.

Wesley Earnest, who has been out of jail on bond since May, was not at the home at the time of the fire, according to a county fire official.

Capt. Mike Miller of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office said Monday that investigators know where Earnest is, but Miller declined to give any further details.

Jennings said he intends to meet with Earnest and his attorney, Joseph Sanzone, later this week. Sanzone could not be reached for comment Monday.

"The only update is this is going to be a pretty long investigation," Jennings said Monday. "I spent the weekend on the scene there. What happened is the entire house ended up in the basement."

Investigators collected evidence from the rubble and forwarded it to forensic labs, Jennings said. The house is located on Clearwater Drive in the Hickory Cove area south of Hales Ford Bridge.

The assessed value of the waterfront home is more than $1.2 million. It is one of two residences the Earnests owned together.

Jocelyn Earnest's body was found in December 2007 at the estranged couple's Forest home. She died from a single gunshot wound to the head and prosecutors contend that a suicide note discovered at the scene was fabricated.

Wesley Earnest's trial is slated for June.