Natchitoches Home Burns; Body Found

State Fire Marshal Investigators say they found the body of a man in the bedroom area of an abandoned home that burned in Natchitoches this morning.  An autopsy is scheduled to determine the victim’s identity and cause of death.

Natchitoches, LA – Investigators from the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to an early morning fire in Natchitoches that severely damaged an abandoned mobile home and where the badly burned remains of a human body were found within.

Just before 5:00 a.m., Monday, the Natchitoches Fire Department was notified by a resident that a tree was on fire in the area of Dean Road and Salim Road.  However, upon arrival, firefighters found the unsecured and blighted home burning.  Once inside, firefighters located the body of a person, believed to be that of a male, in a bedroom.  The body had been burned to an extent that made it difficult for investigators to establish any formal identification.

The body was later processed by investigators and released to the parish coroner.  An autopsy will be conducted in Baton Rouge later this week to establish the cause of death and possibly the identification of the deceased.

According to reports, the home had been abandoned and unoccupied for a prolonged period and had no utility services at the time of the fire.  It had, however, been the site of past drug-related activity and a place frequented by transients.

While the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, investigators believe that the fire originated in the bedroom where the body was found.

Persons with knowledge about this fire are encouraged to contact the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office at 1-800-256-5452.