MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A body was discovered in Orange Mound following a fire early Tuesday morning and authorities are investigating the case as a homicide.
Officials were called to Dallas Street after a home went up in flames around 5:30 a.m. That’s when firefighters found the man dead in a bedroom.
Fire officials said the blaze was intentionally set in multiple locations. The fire department did not name the man found inside.
But family said the victim was Willie Cowans. His niece Angela Anderson had a message for the person responsible.
“Please turn yourself in because my uncle did not deserve this,” she said. “He would’ve gave ya’ll whatever ya’ll wanted, so just turn yourself in.”
Preliminary information suggests this case may be a homicide, authorities said. They didn’t specify what led them to that conclusion, but the family told WREG’s Shay Arthur that Cowans’ vehicles – including a Ford Escape – were missing. They believe he was targeted.
“It looked like he was robbed, shot and his house was set on fire,” she said.
On Tuesday, the family did their best to salvage belongings from the fire-damaged home. The family is hurting, Anderson said.
“My uncle, he was my uncle. He was like a daddy to all of us. He taught us right and wrong and everything and he’s gonna be missed,” she said. “We are lookin for ya’ll, please turn yourself in because my uncle does not bother anybody and it’s not fair to us to bury a loved one ya’ll have taken from us.”
It’s unclear how Cowans died and no arrests have been made. If you know anything about this incident, call Crime Stoppers at (901) 528-CASH.