A NEIGHBOR of the Gestopas in Barangay Centro, Mandaue City found a scorched body that could be the remains of John Jeric Gestopa Suson, a 21-year-old with special needs who went missing after a fire destroyed his family’s house on Monday dawn, Feb. 17, 2020.

The discovery happened at 2:25 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, said Mandaue City Deputy Fire Marshal Kyle Bryan Lauzon.

The neighbor found the unrecognizable body inside the comfort room on the second floor of the Gestopa residence. The body was not completely deformed, and it was covered with ash and debris.

Suson was the grandson of retired judge Gerardo Gestopa Jr., who died along with his wife Louella while searching for Suson who has autism inside their burning house.

Lauzon did not declare Wednesday that the charred remains were Suson’s, saying an autopsy would determine that.

A team from the Scene of the Crime Operation was called to check the remains. It refused to release its initial findings.

Aside from the retired judge’s house, five houses were also destroyed by the fire. (JCT / KAL)