Authorities launched a homicide investigation today after finding a burned body at the site of a small grass fire just off Mount Hamilton Road, east of San Jose.
A San Jose Fire Department crew discovered the body about a mile outside of its jurisdiction, in an unincorporated area east of San Jose. The body was inside a burning area that measured only about 4 feet by 4 feet, said San Jose fire Capt. Allison Cabral.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that the body was burned beyond recognition. ''Nothing is known about the body, zero,'' said Deputy Terrance Helm.
An autopsy will determine the cause of death, Helm said. ''It's not apparent how it happened, so we're treating it as a homicide. Not known how long the body was there. Not known what was used to char the body or if the body was charred incidental to an unrelated brush fire.''
The body, found lying on a steep slope and surrounded by scorched grass at about 6:45 a.m., was just off Mount Hamilton Road about a mile east of Three Springs Road. Mount Hamilton Road was closed at Three Springs, and traffic was being detoured to Clayton Road.
Anyone with any information about this case was asked to call Detective Sgt. Dean Baker or Detective Sgt. John McIntosh at (408) 808-4500. Those wishing to report anonymously can call the Tip Line at (408) 808-4431.
