I obtained this following line from a news broadcast, but I don't quite fully understand the 「とみて」 part. I have some ideas, but I need to know exactly what it means. Is it like an observation? Any help is appreciated.

警察は、1人暮らしの大野さんが死亡したとみて、確認を急ぐとともに、出火原因を調べている。

This is a good question. I would guess is means like "it seems" or "looking at." So an observation might not be to far off. But that would just be a guess.

Edit: Google seems translate it the same as という. Funny.

KREVA Wrote:警察は、1人暮らしの大野さんが死亡したとみて、確認を急ぐとともに、出火原因を調べている。

とみる means "expect that", "anticipate", "regard something as", "believe something to be the case". In other words, by looking at the overall picture you anticipate what happened (or will happen). The key is in the next part, 確認を急ぐ, hurrying to confirm.

My translation is as follows:

Police believe Ono, who lived alone, died (in the fire), and while hurrying to confirm this, they are investigating the cause of the blaze.