Man's body found in ditch after roommate disturbance at nearby home

HOUSTON – Police are investigating a homicide that happened Wednesday morning at a northwest Houston home.

Houston police were called to a home in the 9300 block of Saddle Lane at around 4 a.m. for an assault in progress. According to police, the woman who owns the home received a phone call notifying her that something had happened. As she drove to the house to check things out, her husband called 9-1-1.

When officers arrived at the scene, a man's body was found in a nearby ditch. They say he appeared to have been beaten and possibly stabbed with an object.

Police say four men lived in the home and the initial investigation revealed the initial disturbance involved two roommates.

"We have maybe one person that we're looking at who may be responsible for this. But right now, we're still gathering evidence to substantiate our belief," said HPD homicide investigator Richard Martinez.

Martinez says the victim's three roommates are cooperating with the investigation and agreed to go downtown for questioning. In addition, the homeowner and the man considered a "person of interest" consented to allow officers to search the home.

"Depending on what we find inside, we could maybe go forward with possible charges today," said Martinez.

The victim hasn't been identified but police say he was in his 50's.

Police say the homeowner owns several taquerias and rents the house out to her employees. She is giving investigators a statement about the initial call she received from her tenants.