The death of 15-year-old Demetrius Griffin Jr., whose body was found in a burning trash can last month in the West Side Austin neighborhood, has been ruled a homicide and authorities say he was burned alive.
Demetrius Griffin Jr. | Facebook
At 1:25 a.m. Sept. 17, officers responded to a call of a refuse fire in the 5500 block of West Cortez Street, according to Chicago Police. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a burned body inside a garbage receptacle.
The body was identified as Griffin, whose home address was not known, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
An autopsy did not immediately rule on cause and manner of death, but has since found he died of thermal injuries due to the fire in a garbage can, and his death has been ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.
An alert was issued Sept. 19 asking for help locating the suspect, who may have sought medical treatment for burns suffered while setting the fire.
Authorities investigate after a body was found on Sept. 17 in Austin. | Network Video Productions
Griffin was a freshman at Steinmetz High School who was not involved in gangs, according to his family.
A group of area pastors and businesses have joined forces to offer a $7,500 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.
Police had no updates on the investigation as of Monday evening.
Anyone with information should call the Area North Violent Crimes Unit at (312) 744-8261.
--Chicago Sun-Times Wire and Homicide Watch Chicago