Vehicle of Liberty homicide victim is found in west St. Louis

Investigators found the body of a man outside a Liberty apartment building early Tuesday after firefighters extinguished a fire that authorities say was set intentionally.

The fire was reported shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday at the Wilshire Apartments, 200 Wilshire Blvd. The victim’s vehicle, a red 2013 Ford Fusion, was missing but was recovered later Tuesday by the St. Louis Police Department in west St. Louis. The vehicle was unoccupied.

Police responding to the fire evacuated residents of the building while firefighters extinguished the blaze, which was contained to one apartment, according to police.

While investigating the fire, authorities found the man’s body outside. Police believe he lived in the apartment where the fire was set. They are investigating his death as a homicide.

Liberty police were trying to determine if someone set the fire to cover up the homicide, said Capt. Andy Hedrick, a department spokesman. No one else was found inside the apartment, he said.

Police were withholding the man’s name until a positive identification could be made and family notified. He recently moved to Liberty from the St. Louis area to work at the Ford Claycomo plant.

About 7:50 a.m., a distraught woman arrived at the scene and tried to push her way past police.

“I want to see my daddy! I want to see my daddy!” she yelled as others held her back.

Kansas City crime scene investigators were on the scene Tuesday morning helping to gather evidence. The Missouri fire marshal’s office sent investigators to the scene as well.

The apartment building has eight units and is near Interstate 35.

Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call the Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477.

This story was originally published February 10, 2015 at 7:30 AM with the headline "Vehicle of Liberty homicide victim is found in west St. Louis."