Police in Cleveland are investigating the death of a man who has been missing from Warren since early February as a homicide.

The body of 46-year-old Juvar King Sr. of Warren was found behind an abandoned home near the intersection of Chapman Avenue and Terrace Road in East Cleveland, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office.

"There was a construction crew that was at the property to clean the home," said Detective Commander Joseph Marche. "When they looked through one of the doors inside the house, they saw Mr. King's body on the back porch, and called the police."

East Cleveland Interim Mayor Sandra Morgan said police are investigating King's death as a homicide. East Cleveland Police have not released the official cause of death.

21 News first reported on King's disappearance after receiving a police report saying King was last seen in Warren on the afternoon of February 4.

Police said he was driving his mother's 2007 Buick LaCrosse, which was last pinged in East Cleveland at the intersection of Hayden and Shaw Avenue. 

In the days following, police in Cleveland found a car connected to King's family on the 9300 Block of Sherwood Road. Police say the car was intentionally set on fire.

"The situation appears to be some sort of foul play," said Captain Kenneth Lundy with the East Cleveland Police Department. "This address was an abandoned and vacant home. These are situations that we take seriously. This is very unfortunate and we will work hard and do our very best to make sure those who are responsible are brought to justice."

Soon after this, 28-year-old Nathaniel Crockett was charged with arson in connection with the incident. WKYC reports Crockett is currently free on a $5,000 bond and that police plan on questioning him about King's death.

It is unclear at this time if there are any other suspects in this case, but detectives say they will be questioning Mr. Crockett.

"There are a lot of questions," Marche said. "How did he get the car? Who did he get the car from? It's all going to trace back to how he initially got that car."

"We are trying very much to address the issues of crime in East Cleveland," Mayor Morgan said. "One of our biggest issues we are facing is abandoned buildings, homes that are in distress, and making sure those places are taken down or secured in a way that people can't go into them and commit crime."

Mayor Morgan said legislation to fight abandoned building concerns will be presented in Tuesday's council meeting. The city plans to hire inspectors, expedite the demolition of delinquent properties, and seek out individuals who dump.

According to a press release from East Cleveland Police, a reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for anyone with any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

If you have any information on any potential suspects, you're asked to call the East Cleveland Detective Bureau at 216-681-2162 or Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7563.

East Cleveland Police plan to meet with Cleveland Police on Wednesday to further the investigation.

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