Body found in Covina was dumped, set on fire, investigators say
Authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the identity of a burning body found Tuesday near an upscale Covina neighborhood.
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy spotted the body on the side of East Covina Hills Road just west of Via Verde, out of view of homes about 3:45 a.m.
According to an update issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, preliminary information suggests the body “is an unknown male who was dumped at the location and set on fire.”
The deputy used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, only to discover that the object was a body, said sheriff’s Lt. John Corina.
He estimated that the body had been there for a couple of minutes before the deputy arrived. But the body was so badly burned, its age could be immediately determined. An autopsy is pending.
“We’re treating this as a homicide, but we won’t know for sure until we get the autopsy reports,” Corina said.
Investigators asked anyone with information on the case to call the sheriff’s homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500.
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