Tests on Burned Body Found in Altadena Could Take 6-8 Weeks

Tests that could help determine the cause of death for a man whose burned body was found in the 2600 block of Windsor Avenue could take 6-8 weeks, according to Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the County Department of Coroner.

The tests will include screening for toxins, neuropathology, and histopathology.

The department will also continue to try to identify the body: DNA tests could be one way to do that, Winter said.  However, without a suspected victim to try to match DNA or dental records, identification could take a long time Winter said.

So far, detectives have said they do not have a suspected victim in mind.

Winter also said he could not confirm or deny reports that the victim was found with his ankles and one wrist bound.  The Pasadena Star-News and the Los Angeles Times both reported that development on Thursday, both citing unnamed coroner's officials.  Winter said he spoke with both papers and was asked about the victim being bound but said he did not tell give or confirm either paper that information.

According to the L.A. Times report, this is the 60th unidentified body found in the county in 2012.

Detectives have so far not made any gang connection in the case and the one key piece of evidence that has been identified to the media is a red Mazda sedan found at the scene that may be connected to the victim.

The lead detective in the case, Lt. Matt Burson, has said that getting identification from the Coroner's Department will be the key to the case--he told Patch on Monday that there have not been any reports of missing persons or other leads to give investigators any idea of who the victim is.

Burson also said that there are not yet any indications that the case is related to recent shootings that have taken place in Altadena.

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