Sheriff’s Office: Accident Likely Caused Car Fire That Killed Man

After working this case for over 36 hrs straight, Sheriff’s Office Detectives have narrowed down what led to the Horizon fatal vehicle fire. Investigation has revealed this incident will most likely be accidental.

Through the course of their investigation, CID Detectives have determined the Ford passenger car driven by a male subject (Victim) drove onto the desert area near the 13200 block of Emerald Island. While driving through the desert, the car became stuck on a berm & at some point the hot engine ignited the vehicle. The Victim was unable to exit the vehicle which caught fire a short time later. The Victim died at the scene.

Autopsy is scheduled for today 07/30, however it may take weeks maybe months to positively ID & determine exact cause of death. Investigators, have tentatively identified the Victim as an elderly male. Out of respect to the Victim’s family, the identity of the deceased cannot be revealed until positive ID is made.

Investigation continues – no other information will be released at this time.

This new information validates Sheriff’s Investigators initial findings that this incident at no time was related to the drug cartel / border violence.

Early Wednesday afternoon 07/28 at 1:26 pm, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the desert area near the 13000 block of Emerald Island in reference to a vehicle fire. Deputies arrived to find Horizon Volunteer FD on scene extinguishing the blaze. As the fire was extinguished , Deputies observed what appeared to be that of a charred body inside the vehicle. Deputies immediately sectioned off the immediate area & requested Crimes Against Persons Detectives along with Sheriff’s Office Crime Records & Forensics Analysts to the scene.

Information received revealed a custodian from Eastlake High School spotted a vehicle on fire & called 911. Preliminary investigation indicates the charred body of a person was found inside the front compartment of the vehicle (drivers side). The scorched vehicle is a Ford passenger car (unknown which kind) with Texas license plates. It is unknown at this time if the deceased is male or female as the body was charred beyond recognition. Investigator’s must await autopsy results to try & obtain the identity of the deceased. CID Detectives responded to the scene & worked long into the night & are currently continuing with the investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for later today or tomorrow 07/30.

The Sheriff’s Office is treating this case as an Unattended Death – which it is EPCSO’s policy to treat all Unattended Deaths as homicides until proved otherwise (the delicacy & procedural aspect of a homicide) – however, foul play has not yet been ruled out until autopsy results are in & the vehicle is forensically processed.

At this time, there is nothing to indicate or suggest this incident is linked to any drug cartel / border violence or the kidnapping that took place in Horizon in September 2009.