WBRZ - Baton Rouge

ST. HELENA PARISH - Authorities are investigating the death of a 76-year-old man who was found dead in his front yard Tuesday. John Nelson Hornsby was found -by a letter carrier- a few feet from his home with burns to his body. Detectives say he appeared to have blunt force trauma to the head.

"He has a lot of family that are thinking about him and that are going to miss him. It's just hard to think about that somebody would do that," says Hornsby's granddaughter Joniele Fairburn.

Hornsby's house was also burned to the ground.

"He had a few burns on his legs from being so close to the fire, once he was on the outside. It doesn't appear that he got burned on the inside [of the house]," says St. Helena Sheriff's Investigator Joe Chaney.

Chaney is following clues left at the scene, including tire tracks that could indicate the suspect or suspects hit Hornsby.

"It's just really hard, especially since there is nothing left to the house, no photos, no pictures. We will always remember him in our hearts," says Fairburn.

Authorities are following leads and asking the public for help in solving this case. If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 554 - Jail.