EAST CLEVELAND — The body of a Warren man reported missing last month was discovered by East Cleveland police in a home on Chapman Avenue on Monday and is being investigated as a homicide, city officials confirmed during a news conference Tuesday.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as 46-year-old Juvar King Sr. A medical examiner from the office said an autopsy began Tuesday with no official cause of death determined at this time.

King’s body was found in the 1800 block of Chapman Avenue, near the intersection of Terrace Road, according to East Cleveland police.

During the Tuesday news conference, East Cleveland Detective Joseph Marche provided details about how King’s body was discovered.

“There was a construction crew there to clean the home out. It was an abandoned property. When they looked through one of the doors inside the house, they saw Mr. King and then called the police,” Marche said.

The discovery comes more than a month after King was reported missing Feb. 4, the same day a vehicle belonging to one of his family members was intentionally set on fire in Cleveland.

On Feb 21, Nathaniel Crockett, 28, was arrested and charged in connection with the vehicle fire, which occurred in the 9300 block of Sherwood Road and McCurdy Street. The Cleveland Fire Department responded to the scene, and arson investigators determined the fire had been deliberately set. Crockett was later identified as a suspect and taken into custody.

When asked about Crockett, Marche said, “We know that he was arrested for arson. There are a lot of questions, how did he get the car? Who did he get the car from? It’s all going to come back to whoever initially got that car. That was the victim’s car, and it was found burned just a couple of days after he was reported missing.”

Crockett was indicted on a felony arson charge in late February and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday. He posted a $5,000 bond and is under electronically monitored house arrest, according to Cuyahoga County court records.

The burned vehicle was linked to King’s disappearance, prompting an investigation by the Warren Police Department. King was last seen driving a white Buick LaCrosse Feb. 4. His family continuously organized search efforts in both Warren and Cleveland.

At the Tuesday press conference, East Cleveland Mayor Sandra Morgan gave her condolences to the family of King, “We feel terrible for the family who has to endure this. I know how difficult it is when someone is missing and then to find that they have been deceased,” she said.

East Cleveland acting police Chief Ken Lundy assured the public “Our detective bureau is one of the best in the state. Our solve rate is about 70%, if not higher,” before offering supportive words to the family. “Our sympathies go out to his family, but we will work hard and do our very best to make sure those who are responsible are brought to justice,” he said.

Lundy said his department will reach out to the Cleveland Police Department to assist in their investigation. Police confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) for evidence gathering.

Morgan also spoke about the city’s ongoing issues with abandoned buildings and illegal dumping.

“As the new mayor, 11 days on the job, one of our biggest issues is abandoned buildings and homes in distress. We need to make sure those places are either taken down or secured so people can’t use them to commit crime. Dumping in our city is also a major problem. It leads to crime and other violent acts because it creates pockets of opportunity,” Morgan said.

She announced plans to introduce legislation to address these issues.

“Tonight, in our council meeting, we’ll be discussing legislation to hire inspectors, speed up the demolition of delinquent properties, and prosecute those who dump illegally,” she said.

Lundy also addressed the condition of the property where King’s body was found.

“This address is a vacant, abandoned home. No one would ever think this type of activity, or a body, would be behind it. But these are things we take seriously,” he said.

The news conference concluded with officials urging anyone with information about the case to come forward, noting the $5,000 reward available through Crime Stoppers for anonymous tips.