Passersby Capture Video of Possibly Suicidal Man on Fire on Calle Ocho

Sunday-afternoon visitors to Graceland Memorial Park were greeted by an unusually macabre scene. A small fire smoldered under a tree next to the cemetery's stony entrance on Calle Ocho at SW 44th Avenue. Passing motorists who slowed long enough to look could just make out an all-too-familiar form: a charred...

By Michael E. Miller

January 6, 2015

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Sunday-afternoon visitors to Graceland Memorial Park were greeted by an unusually macabre scene. A small fire smoldered under a tree next to the cemetery's stony entrance on Calle Ocho at SW 44th Avenue. Passing motorists who slowed long enough to look could just make out an all-too-familiar form: a charred corpse.

The grisly January 4 incident was caught on video and posted online yesterday. Miami-Dade Police say they believe a sexual predator set himself ablaze.

"MDPD is investigating an incident that occurred at that location," said department spokeswoman Robin Pinkard. "It is still early in the investigation, but all indications are that it was a suicide."

We've posted the video after the jump. Be warned: It is disturbing.

Police have yet to identify the victim but said he is believed to be a convicted sexual predator who was wanted by authorities after removing his electronic ankle bracelet.

Here is the video, posted yesterday on LiveLeak:

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Michael E. Miller was a staff writer at Miami New Times for five years. His work for New Times won many national awards, including back-to-back-to-back Sigma Delta Chi medallions. He now covers local enterprise for the Washington Post.

Contact: Michael E. Miller