Investigators are searching for answers amid a grisly crime scene in Bethlehem.
A burning body was found next to a dumpster at an apartment complex overnight.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, in the 1800 block of Barbara Street in Bethlehem, neighbors like Daniel Vaughan spotted flames.
“It looked like a car was on fire or a tree, I couldn’t really tell,” Vaughan told 69 News.
The call at 2:40 a.m. alerted police of a burning dumpster near the Parkhurst Apartments and what appeared to be a mannequin next to it set on fire.
“We were hoping it was a mannequin. We didn’t want to believe it was something real,” Vaughan said.
Police arrived minutes later and confirmed that a male human body was burning next to the dumpster.
Investigators were at the scene until about 10:15 a.m. They removed the body, collected evidence and brought in an arson dog to investigate.
Police have not said what may have happened, but they assured Bethlehem residents that there is no danger to the public.
“It seems to be a very random area, we all believe the person’s not even from the area, so he may have run right to the area where he was found, we don’t know whether he came out of a car,” said Capt. Anthony Leardi of the Bethlehem Police Department.
Despite that, Vaughan said it’s an image in his mind he won’t soon forget.
“Fire was shooting out… I don’t ever want to see nothing like that again,” he said.
The investigation is ongoing. The Northampton County Coroner’s Office has not released the man’s identity pending notification of next of kin.
Anyone who may have information should call Bethlehem police at 610-865-7187.