March 31, 2025 - Merced, CA. - Merced County Sheriff's Office officials report on Monday, March 31, 2025 at approximately 8:45 A.M., the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a tree on fire in the backyard of a vacant residence in the 2300 block of Beachwood Drive in Merced.

Merced County Fire personnel responded to the scene and, while working to extinguish the fire, discovered a burned body inside the residence.

Merced County Fire Arson Investigators, along with investigators from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, are actively working to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

This is an ongoing investigation, and more details will be released as they become available.

We ask the public to please avoid the area while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 385-7445


Source: Merced County Sheriff's Office