HOUSTON – The body of a man who had been beaten before his body was set on fire was found Friday in east Houston.
The discovery was reported about 5:45 a.m. after a call about a trash fire near the intersection of Market Street and the East Freeway.
According to Houston police, the body was dumped behind an abandoned house, covered in a blanket and trash and then set on fire.
"It sounded like this guy had some trouble with somebody or somebody had something against him and they wanted him gone," said Detective Christopher Elder, of Houston police.
VIDEO: Police investigate after body found burned
Police said the victim appeared to be an African-American man between 30 and 40 years old. He was wearing jeans and a belt, but the rest of his clothes had been burned.
The man was beaten and may have been shot before his body was burned, police said.
"We're not sure right now, but he might have had his hands bound," Elder said. "We can't tell if that's duct tape or if that's just part of the trash by the way his hands are sitting. He did look like he was assaulted right before this happened. He did have a large welt over his right eye and a large bump on his forehead."
The medical examiner will determine the man’s identity and cause of death.
Anyone with information about the case should call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Stay with KPRC 2 and Click2Houston.com for the latest on this developing story.