Foul-play ruled out in car fire death

Officials at Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office are still waiting for identification of the body found in a vehicle “burned beyond recognition,” but can confirm that the car had been stolen.

Firemen from Lafourche Parish District 1 Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire in Raceland on Oct. 19 at 8:25 p.m. Situated off of U.S. Hwy 90 at Hwy 653 and the North Service Road, flames had already destroyed the engine and passenger-side of what was thought to be a 1995 to 1997 Ford Crown Victoria by the time LPFD arrived.

When officials ran the Nevada license plates found on the car and the vehicle identification number (VIN), the numbers didn’t match up, according to an LPSO spokesman.

“This led authorities to believe that the car had been stolen. The man was not a local, he was from the Nevada area,” said LPSO Public Information Officer Larry Weidel.

According to Weidel, investigators believe the victim had been intoxicated and stopped the car.

“When the car was examined the seat was laid back as if he was resting,” he said.

State fire marshals are conducting the investigation and have two speculative theories of how the car caught on fire, Weidel said. Investigators believe either the victim dropped a lit cigarette or passed out with his foot on the accelerator while the vehicle was parked, causing the engine to overheat, producing the fatal flames, he said.

The body was sent to the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office for identification, Weidel said. A suitcase found in the trunk of the car was intact, but revealed nothing to officials about the body found inside the car, the spokesman said.

An autopsy showed no signs of trauma to the victim and officials have ruled out foul play, he added.

“They have pretty much concluded that this was accidental,” said Weidel.

Initially, officials had speculated whether the fire was the result of a possible homicide situation.