Cops investigating burned body found in Worcester fire as ‘suspicious death’

Worcester firefighters responding to an apartment fire found a badly burned body in what they are calling a “suspicious death” that is being investigated as a homicide, police said.

“Officers saw the resident, a 54-year-old Worcester man, face down in the living room in his apartment,” police said. “His lower body was badly burned and he appeared to have a head injury.”

Police said a neighbor called 911 to report the fire about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said the investigation into how the man was injured and who may have started the fire is ongoing. The name of the dead man was not immediately released.

The medical examiner will determine “whether it was a homicide,” police said.

Police Sgt. Sean Murtha told reporters a man was arrested nearby for shoplifting a torch-style lighter and knew the dead man.

That man, Brayan Flores, 28, was arraigned and released on personal recognizance. “Mr. Flores did know the deceased person .... We’re not going to say more than that. But they did know each other,” Murtha said in a press briefing.

“Because they know each other, we’re looking at him. ... I can’t say the extent of the relationship. I can say there was a relationship.”

Police said the victim in this case is also someone officers were familiar with.

“We have dealt with him before,” Murtha said.