Fire Leads To Grisly Discovery Of Body And Shallow Grave

TUJUNGA, CA — When firefighters arrived at the scene of a house fire in Tujunga Monday, they reportedly found a disturbing scene including a bludgeoned body, a shallow grave and a naked man shouting incoherently.

Homicide detectives on Tuesday continued to investigate the death of a man at a home the 10200 block of North Silverton Avenue where firefighters were called to put out a blaze shortly before noon Monday. Los Angeles Police arrested the victim's adult son at the scene, ABC7 reported.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire as well. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Police Department could not confirm to Patch the identity of any person arrested at the scene of Monday's fire.

According to ABC7, investigators said it appeared that the victim, who was found in the backyard, had been bludgeoned near what appeared to be an empty shallow grave.

Witnesses said they believed the man's adult son set the fire and that he appeared to be under the influence or was having a mental episode. Police found him naked in the backyard as he was acting erratically and speaking unintelligibly, LAPD Lt. Guy Golan told ABC7.

The son's name was not released by police. Video showed the man in handcuffs and being led away by officers.

Witnesses said the victim's son was on the front porch and screaming incoherently before he went back inside the burning home. Neighbors said the incident stemmed from a dispute between the father and son.

The fire was reported about 10:50 a.m. in the 10200 block of North Silverton Avenue, according to Nicholas Prange of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

"Firefighters responded to a two-story descending hillside home with smoke showing," Prange said. "Crews made entry, advancing hose lines, and found fire on the lower floor — floor Sub-1."

Firefighters managed to douse the flames in 23 minutes, and that's when they discovered the body.

Firefighters extinguished the flames in 23 minutes, Prange said.

"Sadly, one person was found dead at the scene," Prange said. "Paramedics provided assessment, care, and hospital transport for one other person with symptoms of smoke inhalation."

Information was not available on the dead man's identity or cause of death.

"One person was taken into custody without incident," said Los Angeles Police Department Officer J. Chaves.

City News Service contributed to this report.