Burned body found in Gary lot
By Lori Caldwell lcaldwell@post-trib.com/648-3258 July 24, 2012 11:44AM
Lake County Deputy Coroner George Deliopoulos (left) and Lake County Evidence Technician Sgt. A. Magurany look in a trash bin as officials investigate the discovery of a body near 4132 E. 10th in the Aetna section of Gary, Ind. Tuesday July 24, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: August 26, 2012 6:13AM
GARY — Aetna residents discovered the severely burned body of a man in a vacant lot Tuesday morning.
He has not been identified, but police believe he is an older black male.
Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner P.J. Adams said there were signs “of possible head trauma.”
Gary police spokeswoman Cpl. Gabrielle King said the man had been in an altercation sometime overnight.
Until an autopsy is completed, investigators won’t know what caused his death.
Adams said the manner of death is pending autopsy results.
The partially charred, crumpled body was found about 10 a.m. in the rear of a vacant lot in the 4100 block of E. 10th Avenue by a woman who returned home and saw the man’s body.
A small crowd gathered Tuesday outside the crime scene tape as Gary detectives, deputy coroners and Lake County crime laboratory processed evidence at the scene.
Police found an accelerant container near the man’s body.
At one home within the crime scene, a large planter was knocked over and a small window next to the front door was broken.
Investigators examined the damage, but declined to speculate on whether it was related to the man’s death in any way.
Detective Cpl. Jeff Hornyak is investigating the suspicious death. Anyone with information can call him at 881-7514.
