Suicide Suspected In Man's Body Found On Fire In Backyard

OCEANSIDE, CA – The burning body of a retirement-age man believed to have committed suicide by setting himself on fire was found Friday in the backyard of a North County home.

Emergency personnel responding to a report of a possible structure fire found the dead man, believed to have been in his late 60s to early 70s, behind a home in the 3200 block of Navigator Circle in Oceanside shortly after 4:30 a.m., according to police.

Though preliminary evidence indicated that the man intentionally set himself on fire as a means of suicide, a final ruling on the manner of his death was on hold pending completion of an investigation by the county Medical Examiner's Office. Lt. Kedrick Sadler said.

The deceased man's name was withheld.

Dispatchers initially received the call from a person reporting a possible fire at the home in the 3200 block of Navigator Circle, then another call from a person who reported seeing a body on fire in the backyard of the residence, Oceanside police Sgt. Harold Farney said.

Police and firefighters arrived and found the burning corpse, but no flames coming from the home, he said. Firefighters quickly doused the flames on the man, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene, Farney said.

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--City News Service