TAUNTON, Mass. (AP) -- A fire that destroyed a downtown apartment building doesn't initially appear to be linked to a dead body discovered there hours earlier, authorities said Saturday.

But both the death and fire are considered suspicious, Police Chief Raymond O'Berg and Fire Chief Tom Downey said at a news conference Friday.

``Nothing has been ruled out,'' O'Berg said.

O'Berg said the investigation of Gordon Rust's death would be difficult because the fire destroyed the potential crime scene.

Rust, 53, was found dead with head injuries at around 9:30 a.m. in his apartment in the Seeley Building on Taunton Green on Friday. Rust's body was ``all beat up'' and there was ``blood all over'' the apartment, according to a police report.

Fire was reported at the historic four-story apartment building, one of the city's best-known landmarks, at about 10:40 p.m. The fire raged with flames that sometimes shot 50 feet into the air from the burning roof. None of the 40 residents reported injuries, but the 21-unit apartment building was destroyed.

Fire officials remained at the scene Saturday morning and said they expected to remain for a couple days.

A smaller fire hit the same building last month.