MORGAN PARK — Police have launched a homicide investigation in the case of a man whose body was burned beyond recognition in a suspicious house fire on the Far South Side Monday.
A single-story home in the 10600 block of South Morgan Street was engulfed in flames early Monday morning and was intentionally set on fire, police and fire officials said. Now, authorities are launching a homicide investigation in relation to the remains of the man found at the site, according to Officer Nicole Trainor, Chicago Police spokeswoman.
Around 12:40 a.m., firefighters arrived at the one-story home in the 10600 block of South Morgan Street after reports of a loud explosion, according to Jeff Lyle, deputy district chief of the Chicago Fire Department.
Shortly before crews extinguished the fire at 1:22 a.m., they found the remains of a man, whose age they could not identify, Lyle said.
His death is now being considered a homicide, according to police. The Medical Examiner's office has not yet issued a report on the man's death, but the Tribune reports that the man suffered a gunshot wound to his head.
The deceased man's car is also missing from the home, Trainor said.
The Chicago Police Department issued a community alert on Tuesday asking for any information about the missing vehicle. The 2004 Buick LeSabre has an Illinois license plate that reads V617710. It is a black, four-door car.
Police are also investigating the incident as a possible arson, according to Officer Janel Sedevic, a Chicago Police spokeswoman.
A woman who said she was the former wife of the man who lived at the home told NBC5 her ex-husband was a city worker. "My stomach is in knots and I can't stop shaking," she told the station.
Anyone with any information about the vehicle, arson or the murder should contact Area South detectives at 312-747-8271.
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