ReturnOfJudah
Veteran
HOUSTON — Family members of a man found hanging and partially burned beneath the 610 North Loop East freeway last week are praying that whoever was responsible is caught soon.
The victim was identified as 45-year-old Jeremy "Boogie" Carnes, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Carnes' body was discovered near Kirkpatrick Boulevard in northeast Houston after Union Pacific employees spotted what they believed was a brush fire and called 911 just after 10 p.m. on October 23.
When firefighters extinguished the flames, they made the grim discovery of Carnes' body hanging from the underside of the freeway.
The manner and cause of death remain pending as the medical examiner's office continues its investigation. Authorities have not yet determined whether Carnes died from hanging, the fire, or other circumstances.
Lt. Khan with HPD previously stated the death appears "highly unlikely, almost impossible" to be a suicide, citing the combination of the hanging and fire as suspicious circumstances.
Investigators are still working to determine where Carnes was initially set on fire and whether it happened at a nearby homeless encampment or directly beneath the overpass.
The victim's sister told KHOU 11 that he struggled with homelessness and other issues. She believes multiple people may be responsible for his death.
"I hope the police find them, for their sake," Commilla Kidd told KHOU 11 from her home in Kansas. "There's a lot of upset people in Houston because he was a kind and beautiful person."
Family members say Carnes was a father of two, and his children were his whole world and all he ever talked about.
He was adored by his parents, big sister and extended family.
"He was an incredible uncle, just a wonderful baby brother," Kidd said.
She's heard from a lot of people who would see Carnes along the roadside with his dog, Cross, who remains missing.
"He'd put up signs that said 'smile,' he would put up signs that said 'have a great day' — no begging, just 'have a great day,'" Kidd said.
Carnes grew up in the Alvin area, where he earned the lifelong nickname of "Boogie" because his father loved to sing "Boogie Oogie Oogie" to him.
Kidd remembers her baby brother as fearless, funny and sweet.
"You know, we just always felt blessed when he came home, felt blessed when he called; you know, there was always an open door for him," Kidd said. "But, you know, that's the life that he chose, what he wanted, so I was just hoping he would get old and give it up and come home."
Carnes was a week shy of his 46th birthday when he died.
"His end of life was unfair and tragic, but those memories of being an amazing person will live on in us all," his obituary said.
