Burning Body of Boy Found

An unidentified boy, about 7 years old, was apparently killed and set afire in the Santa Susana Knolls area south of Simi Valley, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department reported Friday.

The boy’s body was found by Ventura County firefighters who were trying to extinguish a brush fire. It appeared that a flammable liquid had been poured on the body and ignited, Lt. Kathy Kemp said. A pair of handcuffs was found near the body and may have been used on the boy before the fire, she said.

The boy was between 6 and 8 years old, Kemp said. Investigators from the Ventura County medical examiner’s office were unable to identify the boy. He was described as white with brown hair, wearing a T-shirt, shorts, socks and tennis shoes.

An intensive search of the area with the help of two Sheriff’s Department helicopters failed to turn up any suspects, Kemp said.

Authorities found the body after two motorists reported a brush fire near Black Canyon Road south of Santa Susana Pass Road about 11:50 a.m., Kemp said.