Victoria E. Freile, Patti Singer and Todd Clausen

Staff writers

Rochester police said a passerby discovered a body Wednesday that "appeared to have been on fire."

A gruesome discovery brought Rochester police and city firefighters to a wooded area near some basketball courts inside La Grange Park.

Rochester Police Investigator Frank Camp said a passer-by found a human body which "appeared to have been on fire" about 6:20 a.m. Wednesday at the park, located in northwest Rochester.

Camp said authorities determined that the person was dead, but details as the individual’s gender, age or identity were not immediately available.

"We are in the beginning stages of our investigation," Camp said. "This will be a slow and methodical process, so we ask for some patience here."

► Body burned beyond recognition in Livingston County

► Eight burned bodies found in region this year

New York State Police joined city officers for the investigation, which focused near a wooded area and some nearby basketball courts.

It's the second incident involving a burned body in the Rochester region this week. State police said a passerby spotted a burning body Monday night on the side of Lacey Road in Caledonia, Livingston County.

The Caledonia incident is being investigated as a homicide. The burnt corpse was still unidentified Wednesday morning, said Mark O'Donnell, a spokesman for the state police.

► Body burned beyond recognition in Livingston County

Troopers also have not been able to determine the gender of the body found in Livingston County.

Camp declined to discuss whether the two bodies were linked in any manner.

Investigators remained at La Grange Park for several hours on Wednesday morning, combing over areas of the park and speaking with local residents. A portion of La Grange Avenue, which runs off Ridgeway Avenue, from Arborwood Crescent and Arborwood Lane, was closed.

A resident of the area was taking out the trash when he noticed the heavy police presence.

"You don't expect for activity like that to be around here," said Michael Bell. "It is normally pretty safe around here. I am not saying this is like Mendon, Pittsford, or whatever, but it's a secluded area here. It's quiet. You don't expect for activity like that to be around here.

"God didn't put us here to hurt and harm each other. He put us here … to love each other and we have to grasp that. If there is something going on, there are people to talk to. There is nothing that bad."

The La Grange Recreation Center, located within the park, also was shut down for the day. About 10 children at the center were moved to the Edgerton Recreation Center on Backus Street, said city spokesman Jessica Alaimo.

Police asked for anyone with details on the incident at La Grange Park to call the city at 311, emergency dispatchers at 911 or CrimeStoppers at (585) 423-9300.

Includes reporting by Gary Craig.

VFREILE@Gannett.com

PSINGER@Gannett.com

TCLAUSEN@Gannett.com