Burned Hanging Body Found Under I‑610 in Houston

Houston police are investigating the death of a man, believed to be 40–50 years old, who was found hanging from a rope and partially on fire beneath the I‑610 North Loop East overpass in northeast Houston late Thursday night after reports of a brush fire. Fire crews extinguished the blaze and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will perform an autopsy to determine whether the hanging or the burns caused the death. Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation and HPD said it is "highly unlikely" the incident was a suicide, though authorities do not yet know the circumstances and no witnesses have come forward. The location is near a known homeless encampment, but investigators have not confirmed whether the fire started there or under the overpass; police are urging anyone with information to contact the HPD Homicide Division or Houston Crime Stoppers.