‘Severely burned’ body in Playa Vista may be homeless man’s, cops say
A body found burned in Playa Vista may be that of a homeless man, police said Friday.
The body -- believed to be a male adult -- was found about 7:15 a.m. Friday by a security guard in the 5700 block of Mesmer Avenue, Los Angeles police said.
The body was found next to a chain link fence behind an abandoned building next to the 405 freeway and a flood channel. The body was “severely burned,†but evidence suggests it may have been moved there after the man was dead, said LAPD Sgt. Sean Kinchla.
Homeless people frequent the area overnight, leading police to believe the person may have been a transient, police said.
The case is being handled by LAPD’s homicide division and investigators are checking security cameras in the area for leads.
Los Angeles County coroner officials have not identified the body.
There have been four violent crimes in Playa Vista in the last six months, according to the Los Angeles Times crime mapping database.
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Twitter: @josephserna
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