Authorities find dead body in burning vehicle parked in Modesto

Authorities on Sunday found someone dead inside a burning car parked near a small strip mall in northeast Modesto.

Detectives were investigating the incident as a suspicious death, said Modesto police Lt. Rigo DeAlba. The car was found along Oakdale Road just south of Sylvan Avenue.

About 11:15 a.m., a police patrol officer was driving on Oakdale Road when the officer spotted smoke coming from a parking lot between the Stop ’N’ Save Liquors store and a CTT Transmission business.

DeAlba said the officer pulled into the parking lot and found the burning compact car. The car appeared to be a brown or gray Toyota Corolla, but investigators could not confirm the make and model because of its charred remains.

The officer immediately called for the Modesto Fire Department, DeAlba said. Firefighters arrived and put out the fire burning the car. Inside the car, they found the dead body.

Investigators were trying to identify the body. DeAlba said they could not confirm at the scene whether the dead person was a man or a woman due to the fire.

The investigation was in its initial stages. DeAlba said the cause of the death had not been determined, so investigators could not be certain whether the fire caused the person’s death.

No other injuries were reported. Police closed the parking lot as investigators searched the area for evidence.

This story was originally published February 18, 2018 at 3:58 PM with the headline "Authorities find dead body in burning vehicle parked in Modesto."