A man found dead with his legs sawed off inside his burning Northwest Side home last month was bludgeoned to death before he was dismembered, according to an autopsy report.

Albert Guerra, 56, was found while firefighters put out a blaze at his home on Wonder Parkway early May 4. He'd been placed on a plastic sheet, his legs had been sawed off at the upper thigh, and there was a ligature mark on his neck (a sign of strangulation) and trauma to the back of his head.

The autopsy report, released last week, says there is no evidence that Guerra was alive at the time that his legs were cut and his body was set on fire.

Towels and other rags soaked in a flammable liquid were on top of his body and face, which were partially burned in the fire. However, there was no soot visible in his airways; Guerra apparently was dead before the fire erupted.

Guerra's alleged killer, Michael Scott Quinn, 50, had called a relative about six hours earlier and frantically confessed to stabbing and dismembering a man, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Less than a day after the slaying, police arrested Quinn and Connie Yanez, 36, who was Guerra's former girlfriend. Both were charged with murder.

The motive for the killing wasn't clear because both suspects gave different reasons. According to the arrest affidavit, each also claimed responsibility for the slaying.


Twitter: @aley_EN