Warhol's doctor mysteriously burned in NYC

NEW YORK, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A well-known New York physician was found covered in burns to his body in what police suspect may have been a gay tryst gone wrong.

Dr. Denton Cox, 79 -- whose patients included Andy Warhol and John Steinbeck -- was in critical condition late Friday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital with second-degree burns over 40 percent of his body, the New York Daily News reported.

Cox's butler found a grizzly scene when he arrived at Cox's penthouse Tuesday -- Cox lying in bed, covered in burns to his back, legs and groin. Sources told the newspaper the butler found skin and human flesh floating in the bathtub, and sheets were stained with blood.

Cox's other office employees came to the apartment. He told them not to call police, but eventually someone called 911.

Cox told police "three Hispanic men" had doused him with a flammable liquid and robbed him, but investigators were not buying his story due to inconsistencies.

Detectives said the burns indicated Cox was likely naked when the injuries occurred and he hadn't been robbed. Police were considering the possibility the injuries were self-inflicted or accidental, the newspaper said.