Murder Investigation Underway After Elderly Man Found Dead In Burning Home

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Police in Northeast Baltimore are canvassing a neighborhood after an elderly man was found dead in a house fire Monday. The death is being investigated as a homicide.

Investigators believe the fire was purposefully set to conceal the murder. The man had obvious signs of trauma on his body.

When first responders arrived to the home in the 3300 block of the Alameda, they found a two story single family house with light smoke showing from a rear window on the second floor, fire spokesman Samuel Johnson says. They entered the home with a ladder extended to the window and found the man.

Now, police are leaving no stone un-turned and they are hoping an exhaustive search of the area will help turn up a suspect in 83-year-old Charles Ervin's death.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Homicide detectives, at 410-396-2100. Those who wish to remain anonymous can utilize the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line, at 1-866-7LOCKUP.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook