SILVERHILL, Ala. — A man was found dead early Wednesday morning in Silverhill, authorities report.

The body of Robert Paul Aitcheson, 51, was found Wednesday morning when his mobile home on Holston St. caught fire.

According to a report from the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, “The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and Alabama State Fire Marshals are now working the Robert Paul Aitcheson case as a homicide.”

The fact that authorities were dealing with homicide, not just an accident did not come to light until a preliminary autopsy was performed, said Major Anthony Lowery, a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office in a press release. The Sheriff's Office will wait until the autopsy is complete to release the exact cause of death.

“It was just south of Silverhill,” said Silverhill Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gary Patrick.

Patrick added that the Loxley and Robertsdale Volunteer Fire Departments assisted the Silverhill VFD in putting out the blaze, which Patrick said happened in the “wee hours” of Wednesday morning.

The Sheriff's Office is asking the public’s help in solving this crime. Anyone with information on this case or about the victim should call (251) 937-0202 or (251) 972-6802.