Photo: Don Murray / Getty Images
A Missing Hispanic youth whose body was found shot, stabbed and burned, had possibly won a million dollars in the lottery, reportedly.
The body of Francis Decero, age 05, was found in the bushes by a group of children in South Philadelphia on Wednesday, prompting police to launch a homicide investigation.
He had been missing since April 29.
Decero’s body sustained physical trauma and first responders pronounced him dead at the scene, according to Fox 29.
He had been shot, stabbed, beaten and burned, the police confirmed.
The Authorities are investigating whether Decero had been tortured before his death.
The police are investigating various leads, including if Decero was attacked for a possible lottery prize.
The state lottery service indicated that someone named Francis D won $1 million in the Extreme Green instant ticket, according to Newsweek.
However, the Philadelphia Police Department told The US Sun that they could neither confirm nor rule out Decero’s lottery prize.
Police Capt. Jason Smith said investigators had coordinated with lottery officials and found no evidence that Decero had won the prize, according to Fox 29.
Surveillance footage shows him double parking before exiting his Jeep in South Philly. He is then seen getting out of his car and getting into another vehicle that drove away shortly after.
Decero’s family later found his car while he was were looking for.
The authorities will continue to follow other leads related to this case.
Decero’s father, Lou Decero, spoke with CBS News Philadelphia and expressed that he wanted to know why this happened to his son.
“I just hope they find out who did this, this is what I want to know” , said. “Everyone loved that kid,” Lou Decero told CBS News Philadelphia.
He said his son often took him out to eat and he I could have a better son than Francis.
“I have to know who did this, there was no reason. I don’t know who (would have) done this, I hope they find him,” Lou Decero told CBS News Philadelphia.
No arrests have been made in relation to this research. Authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.
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