EXCLUSIVE: Man recounts the scary moment he discovered a burned body under a pile of trash

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police are working to identify a man they say was assaulted and set on fire Friday morning. It happened in the 4600 block of Market St. in the Fifth Ward.

Stoney B. Huery said he discovered the body when he was taking out the trash.

"I thought it was a trash fire and went in the house and got a pot of water. Then when I went over there closer, I (saw) there was a body so I didn't throw no water on it," said Huery.

Huery immediately called 911.

"I'm just glad there ain't no kids taking trash out this morning in the apartments, that would have been horrifying for a kid," said Huery.

Investigators said the victim was assaulted and the body was dragged through a hole in a fence behind the apartment complex.

ORIGINAL STORY: Firefighters find burned body on the scene of a trash fire

It was there where the a man's burning body was discovered.

"His body was burned mainly in the lower half of his body. It appeared he was covered in a blanket of some sort. We don't know if that kind of protected him from the fire or maybe whoever was responsible put it there," said Houston police detective Christopher Elder.

An arson dog detected an accelerate on the man's body. The victim is described as a black man, between 35 and 40-years-old with a mustache.

The victim had no identification on him, so investigators aren't sure who he is.

No one at the apartment complex, including Huery, seems to recognize the victim.

"I walked close enough to see a body. I didn't really see it that close but I knew it was a body," said Huery.

Huery's girlfriend, Melba Barnes, left for work hours before the fire was reported.

Barnes said she didn't see anything suspicious at that time but she did hear a lot of noise in her apartment building.

"I don't know what it was but it sounded like somebody fell down the steps. It was just a lot of noise, but when I came down here, I didn't see anyone," said Barnes.

Investigators are searching through missing person reports to see if anyone matches the victim's description.

It could be days before the body is identified.

If you know who the victim may be or have any information about the crime you're asked to call Crime Stoppers 713-222-TIPS.

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