Vehicle Arson With Human Remains‏ Discovered

A Sheriff's Office Spokesman in Clackamas says they have not ruled out suicide, the car in in a very remote location.

Salem-News.com

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says a citizen discovered an incinerated, still-smoldering automobile that appears to contain human remains on a logging road near Estacada. The discovery was reported at 1:37 PM this afternoon, according to Sheriff's Office Spokesman Jim Strovink.

He says members of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit are responding to this remote, isolated location to thoroughly investigate this discovery.

"The Clackamas County Deputy Medical Examiner was notified and responded to this location. In addition, the Oregon State Police Arson Team has been informed of the situation."

The crime scene is located in an area east of Estacada off Hwy 224, on Forest Service Road 4615.

Strovink says deputies are controlling news crew access to the site at this time, they want to protect images at this point for the sake of their investigation. Investigators have not yet determined specifics, Strovink says, and he also acknowledges that this may eventually be declared a suicide.

It is anticipated that the crime scene will be processed -- with the vehicle and contents transported to a suitable location for an extensive forensic examination.