A man was found dead on Thursday night under the I-610 North Loop East in Houston. Union Pacific employees reported a fire near the Kirkpatrick Blvd underpass around 10:30 p.m. When Houston Police arrived, they found the man hanging and partially on fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Click2Houston.
Houston officials responded to a fire under the I-610 North Loop East overpass and found a man’s body after the flames were put out. The area is known as a homeless encampment, and HPD is investigating it as a homicide. HPD’s Lt. Khan said, "We do not know the circumstances surrounding the incident. There are no witnesses at this time that have come forward," as reported by KHOU. The Harris County medical examiner will determine whether the man died from hanging or the fire, and his identity has not been released.
Authorities find the case unusual because the man was both hanged and set on fire. Khan told KHOU it appears "highly unlikely, almost impossible" that the death was a suicide. Police collected evidence at the scene while traffic continued nearby and are asking the public to provide any information that could help identify the person responsible.
