Man found dead in burning building in Lawndale

A man who was found dead in a burning building early Thursday in the Southwest Side Lawndale neighborhood has been identified.

Jake Woods, 58, was found about 3 a.m. in the rear of an abandoned building on fire in the 1800 block of South Drake, according to Chicago Police and Fire department officials, and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Woods, whose home address was unknown Monday morning, was dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Friday did not rule on cause and manner of death, with results pending further investigation.

The fire also affected two occupied buildings, and 26 people—11 children and 15 adults—were displaced, fire officials said. No smoke detectors were heard in either of the neighboring buildings.

One person was rescued from the blaze, according to the fire department.

Area Central detectives were conducting a death investigation.