A burned corpse found next to a south Minneapolis garbage dumpster remained unidentified Friday evening, and authorities were seeking the public's help to identify the man.
Minneapolis homicide and arson investigators are probing both the death and a small related fire late Thursday. A cause of death hasn't yet been released for the victim.
Firefighters were called to a dumpster fire near an alley on E. 39th Street between Snelling and Minnehaha Avenues S. about 11:30 p.m.
When they arrived, firefighters found the man's body on asphalt next to the dumpster, police said.
The body was badly burned, which could hamper identification, a police spokesman said Friday evening. He called the grim findings a "tough scene" for police.
"There was no identification found on him, and we're having a difficult time figuring out exactly who he is," police spokesman Scott Seroka said.
"We're asking for the public's help from anyone who might have either seen something preceding 11:30 last night around this intersection, or somebody noticed that somebody might be missing."
Investigators are not releasing other details, such as the victim's height or race.
