Charred Remains in Car Probably Suicide

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is releasing this information now to help ease community concerns over this suspicious and unfortunate death.

Salem-News.com

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit Supervisor has announced that the arson-torched vehicle containing human remains - found in a remote area of Estacada last week, is likely part of a suicide case.

Investigators say they have contacted the immediate family of the registered owner of the incinerated vehicle, and have learned that the suspected deceased individual had been suffering from significant health problems.

Because of this, suicide is strongly suspected as the cause of death at this time.

Detective Jim Strovink with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office says that last Friday, this incinerated vehicle and its contents were transported, intact, to the Oregon State Police Crime Laboratory for an extensive forensic examination.

"The human remains have been recovered from this examined vehicle and submitted to the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office for forensic examination -- which should conclusively identify the deceased."

Oregon State Police Arson investigators are also forensically examining the torched vehicle in an effort to ascertain the type of accelerant used to ignite the car.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office is releasing this information now to help ease community concerns over this suspicious and unfortunate death.

Source: Clackamas County Sheriff