Burning body found during brush fire off Forest Ave.JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart confirmed that the body found in a brush fire Wednesday morning is a homicide.
She says the victim died of blunt force trauma to the head and strangulation before he was burned. The body hasn't been identified.
Firefighters found the man's body in a brush fire around 1:15 Wednesday morning. The body was found on Forest Avenue Extension near Methodist Home Road.
Investigators describe the body as 'charred to a crisp'. Any clothing or personal items that could have been on the victim were burned to ashes.
Dental records or DNA will have to be used to identify him.
Jackson police spokeswoman Colendula Green said the man's body was located in a grassy area, about 15 feet from Forest Avenue Ext. Police were called to investigate the burned body after fire crews arrived on scene.
"It's very unusual to find a body like this, it's unfortunate for the family, but we will definitely investigate this case and hopefully everything will pan out," said Officer Green.
Police are checking missing person reports to see if they can find the identity of the man.
This murder marks Jackson's 20th homicide this year.
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