ST. LOUIS — A person was found burned to death early Tuesday morning in south St. Louis.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the body was found at about 2:20 a.m. Tuesday in an alleyway in the 3200 block of Oregon Avenue, located in the city's Benton Park West neighborhood. Responding officers also put out several small fires at the scene.
Police said they believe the death was intentional, and a homicide investigation was ongoing. The Bomb and Arson Unit were also called to the scene.
The crime happened less than a block away from Edmond's Chile Company. Owner Michele Adelman was shocked to hear about it because their family business has been in the Benton Park West Neighborhood since the 1950s and this is the best she's ever seen this area.
"There's a lot of renovation and rehabs going on here and people are starting to move in," she said.
That's something that Adelman said she hasn't seen for quite some time.
"Twenty years ago, things were not so good and people were abandoning these areas," she said.
Adelman said in the last few years, though, all of that has changed.
"We know a lot of these neighbors here. There are some kids across the street that my kids play with," she said.
As far as flashing lights and crime scene tape, Adelman said it's rare in this part of the neighborhood and if it happens, it's usually isolated.
"I hear of things around, but I think most of that is between people who know each other, not so much as being attacked," she said.
While it's hard for Adelman to even think about what happened steps away from her business's doorstep, she has faith in her street.
"There's so many people here that are coming back, so that gives us a lot of hope," she said.
This marks at least the 140th homicide in the city of St. Louis in 2023.
No other details were available as of Tuesday morning.
This is a breaking news story. 5 On Your Side will update it as more information becomes available.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
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