Police Investigate Discovery Of Burning Body In Bridesburg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police believe the person who was killed and set on fire, was shot at least eight times and may have been mutilated.
Investigators have made no arrests, as of Saturday night, in the homicide investigation underway in Bridesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia.
"It's very scary, very scary especially with our kids here. It's shocking," said Veronica Gonzalez.
People who live in the nearby, relatively quiet neighborhood, are in disbelief over the discovery but also frightened by the gruesomeness of this crime.
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Investigators say around 3:45 a.m. Saturday workers at the Quickway Transfer Station heard gunfire.
Then about an hour later, one of the workers, saw flames in the front lot.
That worker called 911 and went to extinguish the flames, and then realized what was burning. It was a man's bullet riddled body.
"That area is very remote. Unless you are from around here, you wouldn't know that that was back there," said Joanna Jhinis of Bridesburg, "It would have to be something, we're someone knew there was isolation back there."
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The lot near Orthodox and Hedley Street, where the burning body was found, cannot be seen from the main road.
All the way around its covered by overgrown shrubs and trees and there's almost no lighting in the area.
Residents are calling for the isolated area to be addressed by the facility or by police.
"Maybe surveillance, maybe hiring security guards," said Gonzalez, "and some lighting."
Police found an I.D. near the charred remains, but have not been able to confirm if that identification belonged to the victim.
Authorities said the body was burned beyond recognition.