San Antonio Body Found: Wrapped in Jacket & Shower Curtain
- San Antonio police homicide investigators are examining the death of an 84-year-old man whose body was discovered burning in a ditch on the city's Southeast Side.
- According to a report by San Antonio police, the victim's hands were bound and his body had been wrapped in various materials, including a jacket and a shower...
- The incident occurred in an area surrounded by brush along Rigsby Avenue, not far from Roland Road.
San Antonio police homicide investigators are examining the death of an 84-year-old man whose body was discovered burning in a ditch on the city’s Southeast Side. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Manuel Gomez Mendez Jr. On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, following a grim discovery made by firefighters earlier in the weekend.
According to a report by San Antonio police, the victim’s hands were bound and his body had been wrapped in various materials, including a jacket and a shower curtain, before being set on fire. The case has been listed as a murder, though the specific cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation.
Firefighters Discover Body During Brush Fire Response
The scene was initially reported as a grass fire. Fire crews arrived at the location just after 7:30 a.m. On Saturday, March 28, 2026. The incident occurred in an area surrounded by brush along Rigsby Avenue, not far from Roland Road. Some reports specify the location within the 1500 block of Rigsby Avenue on the East Side, describing the body as being found in a ditch along a greenway down a hill from the street.
Upon extinguishing the flames, fire personnel discovered the man’s body lying on his left side. Fire personnel pronounced the man dead at 7:44 a.m., according to the police report. Due to the condition of the body and indications of possible foul play, homicide detectives were subsequently called to the scene.
Investigators found multiple ropes and a plastic tote nearby the location where the body was found. The presence of these items, along with the bound hands and wrapping materials, contributed to the classification of the death as a homicide.
Witnesses Unknowingly Stumble Upon Crime Scene
The fire was noticed by a local family driving through the area. A woman, who requested to remain anonymous, told KSAT 12 News that she and her family were on their way to run errands when her daughter spotted the flames.
“My daughter said, ‘Mom, Dad, fire! Fire!’ So my husband and I looked at each other,” the woman said.
The family made a U-turn and called 911 to report what they believed was a vegetation fire. The witness noted that the flames appeared established before they arrived.
“(The fire) looked like it was going on for a bit,” she said. “We thought it was just a fire. We thought we’d just report it and we’d leave and that’s it.”
However, the situation escalated beyond a simple fire report. The woman stated that homicide detectives later showed up at her door to question her family about the discovery. It was only during this follow-up that the family learned they had stumbled upon a murder scene.
Investigation Remains Active
San Antonio police homicide investigators were called after firefighters found the bound body burning in the ditch. While the victim’s identity was initially listed as “John Doe” in the initial report, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed his identity as Manuel Gomez Mendez Jr. On Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
As of the latest updates provided by local news outlets, including the San Antonio Express-News and KSAT, no arrests have been announced. The police report indicates that the body was wrapped in layers of material before being ignited. The investigation continues as detectives seek to determine the full circumstances surrounding the death.
The area where the body was found is described as being surrounded by brush, down a hill from Rigsby Avenue. Firefighters had been called to put out the grass fire before the human remains were discovered. The police report lists the case as a murder, though official cause of death details have not yet been released by the medical examiner’s office.
Authorities have not released information regarding a motive or any suspects at this time. The presence of the shower curtain, jacket, ropes, and plastic tote at the scene remains a key focus of the forensic examination. The community remains await further updates from the San Antonio Police Department as the homicide investigation progresses.