Police open murder investigation after grass fire

Just before 6:30 on Sunday evening, the Austin Fire Department was notified about smoke coming from the 7500 block of South IH-35.

"When they arrived on scene they observed a campsite in the woods that was on fire, as they got closer they observed a body," said Sgt. Eric De Los Santos, Austin Police Department.

Police identified the body as 66-year old Harold Parham, a homeless man who lived at the campsite.

"Mr. Parham was burned so assessing his injuries at that time was difficult, so he was transported to the medical examiner's office," said De Los Santos.

An autopsy revealed he died from what police said was a "penetrating wound." There are pieces to the puzzle detectives are still putting together.

"Earlier in the day about 10:00 am there was another campfire relatively close to this one. The person AFD believes lit that fire has been arrested. I can tell you that person obviously is a person of interest in ours," said De Los Santos.

Court documents say the man arrested for arson was Richard Wroblewski. Police say he started a fire intentionally earlier that same day, after an argument over his bike being stolen. Another witness told police around the time of the morning fire, she could see three men leaving the wooded area carrying propane tanks.

"This community that lives in that particular area, they all know each other, so was there an argument amongst the group?” said De Los Santos.

Police say the evening fire and murder are definitely connected. The morning fire, that's still uncertain.