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Man's burning body found on sidewalk in Altadena. (KTLA-TV / April 16, 2012) |
ALTADENA, Calif. (KTLA) -- A man whose burning body was discovered on a sidewalk in Altadena has been identified by coroner's officials as 70-year-old Emmitt Lee Zinn.
Zinn was likely homeless and had no listed address, according to Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Department.
An anonymous source told the Pasadena Star-News that Zinn may have set fires in connection with insurance scams.
His burning body was found around 6 a.m. on April 15 by a passerby walking in the 2600 block of N. Windsor Drive.
"The only person we have is the 911 caller who was passing through the area and stated that they saw something that was burning, thinking it was trash," sheriff's Lt. Matthew Burson said.
"But upon closer examination, they noticed it was a person, in fact, that was burning," Burson said.
Sheriff's investigators arrived and found the burned man curled in a fetal position.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy showed that his hands and feet were tied up.
However, more tests are needed to determine the exact cause of death, Corral said.
Results are expected in about eight to 10 weeks.
Neighbors told KTLA they were shocked at the discovery.
"I've never seen something like this happen before," Altadena resident Helen Walker said. "It's really scary."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Zinn was likely homeless and had no listed address, according to Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Department.
An anonymous source told the Pasadena Star-News that Zinn may have set fires in connection with insurance scams.
His burning body was found around 6 a.m. on April 15 by a passerby walking in the 2600 block of N. Windsor Drive.
"The only person we have is the 911 caller who was passing through the area and stated that they saw something that was burning, thinking it was trash," sheriff's Lt. Matthew Burson said.
"But upon closer examination, they noticed it was a person, in fact, that was burning," Burson said.
Sheriff's investigators arrived and found the burned man curled in a fetal position.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy showed that his hands and feet were tied up.
However, more tests are needed to determine the exact cause of death, Corral said.
Results are expected in about eight to 10 weeks.
Neighbors told KTLA they were shocked at the discovery.
"I've never seen something like this happen before," Altadena resident Helen Walker said. "It's really scary."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
