Man stabbed 77 times, set on fire: Police

An apartment fire in the city’s East Germantown neighborhood led firefighters and investigators to a gruesome scene Monday.

The body of a 64-year-old man was found on the floorinsidean apartment on the 500 block of East Church Lane. He had been stabbed 77 times, and his body was in the advanced stages of decomposition, burned beyond recognition.

He was lateridentified as Robert Lynch.

Police said the killer stabbed Lynch last week, and returned Monday to light him on fire. Firefighters spent only a few minutes extinguishing the flames, fire Capt. William Dixon said.

Neighbors told 6ABC a putrid smell came in through vents and hallways last week in the apartment complex.

“You can smell the smoke in the air. You can actually smell the body. I walked by there from time to time, now that we are allowed to walk that way,” resident Frankie Green said.

Police said they have identified a person of interest, but have not made any arrests.