SAN DIEGO -- A man who was found on fire in San Diego is a former prisoner of North Korea who was freed with the help of former President Jimmy Carter.

Police on Tuesday said the death of Aijalon Gomes appears to be either an accident or suicide. The case remains under investigation.

Gomes was found burning in a field late Friday. He died at the scene. The 38-year-old Boston man had recently moved to San Diego.

Aijalon Gomes reaches for his mother Jacqueline McCarthy after arriving at Logan International Airport in Boston on Aug. 27, 2010. AP Photo

Gomes had been teaching English in South Korea when he was imprisoned for illegally crossing into North Korea from China in 2010. He spent months in prison until Carter arranged his release.

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Gomes grew up the inner-city Boston neighborhood of Mattapan, then headed to college at Bowdoin in Maine before going to South Korea to teach several years after graduating.

Gomes' mother, Jacqueline McCarthy, told KNSD-TV that she plans to set up an online fundraising page to help cover funeral costs.