DNA will be used in the coming weeks to determine the identity of a man whose remains were found in a vehicle that had been destroyed by fire in December.
The death on Dec. 29 has been confirmed accidental by Coroner Earl Piper. He said on Dec. 31 that the death did not appear to be criminal in nature and was able to confirm that after meeting with a pathologist.
Piper was able to determine that the person found in the vehicle was a man, but could not release a possible age range for the victim or a definite cause of death. He said that there were signs of smoke inhalation and that he would be able to determine a cause of death later this week.
“I’m not going to put a definite cause of death until we looked through everything,” Piper said. “Preliminary signs definitely show that there was soot in the airways, which would indicate inhalation.”
Police were dispatched to Deckard Ridge Road just after 8 a.m. on Dec. 29 for a vehicle that had been burned and was still smoldering, according to a news release from the Brown County Sheriff’s Department. The vehicle was stuck in the mud on the side of the road.
Six hours before the vehicle was discovered, a resident reported that a vehicle had traveled through the yard of a home in the 2800 block of T.C. Steele Road, struck a carport there and continued southbound without stopping. Car parts and paint left behind led police to believe it could be the vehicle that burned, the news release said.
The identity of the person whose remains were found in the vehicle could not be confirmed due to the extent of damage. The vehicle is believed to be a model year 2006 – 2011 Kia Rio, the news release said.
“Other than knowing the make of the car, the VIN number and everything was completely gone. The license plate was completely burnt up,” Piper said.
“This is one of the more advanced fires I’ve dealt with,” he said.
DNA was extracted from the body and will be used to help identify the victim, he said.
Piper said there is one individual whose DNA they are using to compare with the DNA found at the scene.
“Basically I am in the process of doing testing to see if I can eliminate who this is or isn’t,” he said.
Until DNA comes back, he will not be able to confirm the identity.
The DNA results could take between four and six weeks to get back. But Piper said he has requested the results be returned as soon as possible.
Teeth from the remains and dental records could be used to help identify the body, Piper said.
The evidence shows the victim had been driving the vehicle, but was likely trying to move to the backseat, he said.
He said the fire appeared to have started in the early morning hours.
