Sheriff: Victim In Burning Car Was Murdered
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Deputies say the human remains found inside a burning vehicle in Jefferson County are that of a homicide victim.
A body was found inside a burning sedan near the 9500 block of Cougar Road in the Deer Creek area about 11:40 a.m. Sunday.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says they are making progress on the case with about 25 detectives working it. Some of those deputies were back out at the scene on Tuesday where the car was found burning to do a grid search of the area.
According to the sheriff's office, the burned out car was not stolen and deputies are in contact with the registered owner.
The coroner's office completed the autopsy on the body Tuesday afternoon. The victim is a man and the case is now considered a homicide.
"There are challenges that come with that (burned car and body). So the process of making a quick ID, evidence that could have burned in that car, it's just a slower process," Jacki Kelley with the sheriff's office said.
The sheriff's office says they're hoping to have an identity to release on the victim very soon.
Additional Information from Jefferson County Sheriff's Office:
The Sheriff's Office is urging any witnesses to the car fire, or anyone who observed any suspicious activity in the area of Cougar Rd. to call the JeffCo Sheriff's Office tip line at 303-271-5612, or call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).
