Fire crews were called to the 5500 block of Newtown Avenue , near Tacony Creek Park for a rubbish fire.
According to police, crews instead found a man bound and set on fire.
The victim's arms, ankles and neck were tied up with an electrical cord.
His body was also tied to a garage type floor jack used to change tires.
Police say the jack may have weighed 50 pounds.
There was also evidence of rags stuck in containers and a strong gas odor.
The victim was found on the side of a desolate road in an unlit wooded area.
An autopsy will be done to determine the identity and if the victim died before or after he was set on fire.
Police are checking private surveillance cameras in the area to see if they provide any clues.
