PHOENIX -- The family of a homeless man who looked like Jesus after wandering the streets for at least 10 years says he met a savage death.

IMAGES: Aaron Taylor Growing Up

Police declined to discuss the death of Aaron Taylor. His family can only explain what they know.

"There was some kind of material placed on him," said Frank Taylor, the man's father. "I don't know what the circumstances were. Poured on him or something. Burned to death."

Drugs tore Taylor away from his family but they kept trying to find him and even hired a private investigator.

"I always thought he was in downtown Phoenix probably close to those shelters," his dad said. "Never gave it a thought."

The family has now learned from area businesses that Aaron was a protector.

"They said that Aaron always knew when she was going to work late and close late," said Pat Taylor, Aaron's mother. "He would always be there when she came out the doors so that he could be with her."

But he had been the subject of cruel pranks before.

"They had tied him up and broken his ankle tied and ducked taped him to a chair and left him out in the park in the cold," said Frank Taylor.

It is too painful for Aaron's mom to talk about her son who was found burning to death outside a Subway shop on Christmas.

"I can anwer that for her she's broken-hearted," Frank Taylor said. "It's a difficult time in our life. It's certainly not easy to lose a child and to lose one in this manner."

Police will only say it's a death investigation and won't comment on the cause.