Charred Body Found in Brush Fire NR12287kr

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel put out a brush fire early Thursday morning and found the charred remains of a homicide victim.

On June 21, 2012, around 3 a.m., a California Highway Patrol officer reported a small brush fire on La Tuna Canyon, northwest of the 210 Freeway and the La Tuna Canyon off-ramp. Firefighters put out the blaze and discovered a man’s body on the hiking trail amid the burnt out brush.

Foothill Area homicide detectives conducted a crime scene investigation and gathered evidence. The case is being handled as a homicide until the cause of death can be verified through an autopsy to be performed by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

The victim’s identity is unknown at this time.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Foothill Detective Division, Detectives Martinez and Gutierrez at 818-834-3115. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.”