Fire leads police to murder victim with body desecrated

GERMANTOWN (WTXF) - Police are dealing with a murder mystery because the victim's head and fingertips were cut off, and the body is decomposing.

Saturday evening, fire officials put out a fire with heavy smoke at a home in the 200 block of E. Price Street.

Then, a body burned beyond recognition was found in the basement.

Monday, we learned the Fire Marshal determined the fire started next to the victim's body.

According to police, "The victim was wrapped in a green sheet, and was then wrapped in plastic; the body was in the advanced stages of decomposition. The victim appears to have been deceased for several weeks; the head is separated from the body, and all of the fingertips have been severed from the victim's hands. The Medical Examiner determined that the victim had a penetrating stab wound to the chest, and trauma to the head and neck. Due to the amount of decomposition, additional forensic examination is required to ascertain the manner of trauma to the head and neck."

At this time, the victim has not been identified, and there is no suspect or motive.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury.