Medical Examiner: 15-Year-Old Boy Was Burned Alive In Homicide

By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 17, 2016 7:54PM

A 15-year-old boy whose body was found in a burning trash can in Austin last month was burned alive, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Demetrius Griffin Jr. was discovered on Sept. 17 “in a burning receptacle” at 5524 W. Cortez St. The cause of death was “thermal injuries due to incendiary fire in a garbage can,” and the manner was a ruled a homicide, Becky Schlikerman, Public Information Officer at Cook County Government, told Chicagoist in an email.

A determination took additional time because the case required further study in order to reach a conclusion.

Griffin was a freshman at Steinmetz High School, according to the Chicago Tribune. ABC7 reports that community pastors have offered a $7500 reward for information leading to an arrest. So far police have no one in custody.

"Community, I need your help,” said Polly Sykes, Griffin’s mother, according to ABC7. “They killed my baby out here in this alley. I need somebody. If you know something, please come forward. They took my life.”