Smoke Leads Calif. Authorities to Burning Body
Source The Porterville Recorder, Calif.
March 30--Tulare County Sheriff's Department violent crimes detectives spent most of the day Thursday combing a hill and orange grove southeast of Strathmore after human remains were found burning in an isolated ranch shop.
Authorities confirmed there was just one victim and that the body was burning inside the shop.
According to the sheriff's office, Tulare County Fire fighters were notified of smoke coming from a cinder-block building off of Avenue 184, just east of Road 245 at about 8:30 Thursday morning. The call reportedly came from a home a ways above the isolated building when residents saw smoke.
The initial call was a commercial structure fire and a possible crime. It became a crime scene after firefighters discovered the body. The mostly cinder-block and tin building did not burn.
The smoke was from the burning remains. A small amount of white smoke could be seen coming from the back side of the building 30 minutes after the initial call.
There are several residences in the area, but none close to the shed. No vehicles were at the scene other than fire or TCSD vehicles. TCFD sent three engines to the fire.
The name, age or gender of the victim was not made public and Sgt. Chris Douglass, spokesperson for the sheriff's department, said that would be released later by the coroner.
An autopsy is scheduled for this morning.
The crime scene is about 1,000 yards off of Avenue 184. A narrow dirt road leads up to the shop that officials said was used for welding. The road is surrounded on both sides by orange trees, although the shed is just beyond the groves. There are several dirt roads that lead up the hill off of Avenue 184, including one to the east.
By noon, law enforcement tape could be seen in the grove, about an eighth of a mile each of the shop. Detectives and forensic investigators were on the scene well into the afternoon.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Sheriff's office at 800-808-0488. People can also leave tips anonymously through the Sheriff's TipNow Program. They can send a text or voice mail to 559-725-4194 or e-mail [email protected].
Copyright 2012 - The Porterville Recorder, Calif.
