Sept. 16--The body of a man who had been burned beyond recognition after a Morgan Park home exploded on Monday died of a gunshot wound to his head in a homicide, officials said Tuesday.
The victim, whose identification and age have not been confirmed, died of a gunshot wound to the head and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
The man was dead at the scene in the 10800 block of South Morgan Street on Chicago's Far South Side, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Police said the home was intentionally set on fire in an arson.
On Tuesday, police issued an alert for information about the homicide. In the alert, police said they were looking for a missing 2004 Buick LeSabre that was missing from the home. According to police the vehicle has 4 doors, is black in color and has an Illinois license plate of V617710.
After finding the body at the back of the home, authorities tried unsuccessfully to reach the man who lived there, according to a police report. Neighbors said that man worked for the city Department of Streets and Sanitation, but a spokeswoman could not confirm that.
According to the report, a K-9 unit detected an accelerant, which was determined to be gasoline, on the back porch, rear bedroom, dining room and southeast bedroom.
Officials received a report of an explosion around 12:40 a.m. in the 10800 block of South Morgan, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Chief Jeff Lyle. The explosion led to a fire at the one-story house.
Fire officials and Chicago police arson detectives said the fire was has intentionally set.
The blaze was put out at 1:22 a.m., Lyle said. Afterward, officials found the victim unresponsive in the house, according to police.
At the scene, several neighbors stood in groups on the front lawns of nearby houses, watching firefighters and police officers. Some officers took out yellow tape and started blocking off the blackened red brick home that stood on the west side of South Morgan. A white-rimmed bow window lay on a manicured lawn in front of the house.
Fred Cattledge, who lives in a house across the street, said he and his wife were awake in their home when they heard the loud sound outside.
"It sounded like a hurricane," Cattledge said. "It was like a big wind."
Early Monday, Cattledge, his wife and their 16-year-old daughter stood outside in their pajamas and robes along with other neighbors.
Cattledge said he has seen and chatted with a man who lived by himself in the house that burned.
As soon as Cattledge saw the fire, he said he called his neighbor, but he got the man's voice mail every time he dialed.
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