NEW ORLEANS -- A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder hours after authorities found a burned body behind a vacant Gentilly Woods grocery store.
David Klein, 52, was booked on a count of second-degree murder, according to Orleans Parish jail records. The New Orleans Advocate, citing a source, said he was booked in connection with the death.
The New Orleans Police Department later confirmed the development to WWL-TV.
An officer was flagged down about 11:30 a.m. Friday after bystanders said they saw one man light another on fire following an argument.
The officer arrived at the vacant Winn-Dixie in the 4600 block of Chef Menteur Highway and found the victim’s body burning.
One witnesses sprinted to the man with a fire extinguisher in his hand in an effort to put out the flames.
Authorities said the unidentified victim’s body was burned to the skeleton.
Police have not identified a motive in the killing.
A law enforcement source told The Advocate that Klein was taken into custody after being identified as the only person near the victim at the time the fire and body were discovered.
Klein allegedly admitted to putting a box on top of the victim while he slept but told officers, "I didn't do it," the source said.
The source said it also wasn't clear what was used to fuel the blaze.