PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A body was found Friday in the freezer of a South Philadelphia home, police said. Authorities are now trying to determine the cause of his death.
Police told CBS3 on Friday afternoon that a person of interest was in custody. They did not reveal the person’s identity.
Investigators were at a house on the 1200 block on Snyder Avenue around 6 a.m. trying to find out more information.
According to police, only a father and son lived here, one of whom may have died.
News of the grisly discovery rocked the neighborhood on Friday.
“It’s a shock to the community that people woke up to see this,” said Yusuf Mitchell, who lives nearby. “Friday is a bad way to start the holidays when Christmas is coming.”
“It’s pretty scary that something like this is happening,” said neighbor Ray Hussey.
Hessey was walking her dog early Friday morning when she heard terrifying cries for help.
“Around 4:30 a.m., I heard screaming in the street,” he said.
Police said the screams were heard from inside the house. Police believe the family members were checking on their health after not hearing from them for several days.
Instead, relatives found the bloody mess and immediately called the police.
When the cops arrived, they followed the trail of blood to a basement freezer.
Investigators found blood in the basement of the house and found the body of a man lying face down in a freezer with a bag over his head. A bloody knife was nearby, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. “This person may have been stabbed to death.”
Eyewitness news was there as investigators searched for clues.
The front and back doors were checked by police. There is no evidence of forced entry and the property does not appear to have been vandalized.