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Police Make Arrest After Elderly Man's Burned Body Found In Allentown Home

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Police say they have made an arrest after the burned body of an elderly man was discovered today in a home in the city's Allentown section.

Police say they have charged 24-year-old Jawwaad Ali with homicide in connection with the death of 83-year-old John Connors.

According to investigators, Ali is believed to have been staying with Connors.

The victim's family is devastated over the loss.

"Just wanted independence all the time," Debbie Goldie said.

Goldie says that what she remembers most about her uncle. But that independence, she says is what might have lead to Connors' untimely death.

"He loved when people came down and said, 'Hello, Jack. Hi, Mr. Connors.' We couldn't get him into a place where he would have been better," Goldie said.

KDKA is told a few younger men had been staying with Connors and his dog, Echo, on the second floor of his Allen Street home. What happened Friday is what Goldie feared for a long time. She says he would pay these men to fix up his house.

"There's a lot of traffic coming in and out of here and he couldn't control it," Goldie said.

Connors was found dead, his body burned just 11:30 a.m. on the second floor of his home. She says he was beaten before he was set fire.

"The potential witness is being transported to headquarters where information is being collected," Pittsburgh Police Spokesperson Sonya Toler said.

"Why would they hurt him? He was an old, nice guy. He worked all his life, owning a funeral home and stuff," neighbor Clayton Monsrud said.

Connors owned a funeral home in the neighborhood for years.

"Mr. Connors has been here since the '60s, '70s, when I was a kid. The funeral home was here. It was a very stately place. Mr. Connors was a very dignified member of the neighborhood," Vice President of the Allentown Community Development Corporation Judy Hackel said.

Connors dog is okay and was taken away by a police officer.

Connors autopsy is scheduled for Saturday morning.

Police continue to investigate the case.

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