Sheriff: Remains likely belong to missing person
ALCORN COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) -- On County Road 335 near Jacinto in Alcorn County, authorities say a fisherman made a gruesome discovery.
Charred fragments mark the scene where Tammy McVey Wright's car was found.
It had been burned to such a degree that parts were falling off the vehicle as it was towed away by authorities.
Inside, Alcorn County sheriff's deputies found unidentifiable human remains.
Authorities say a fisherman discovered the burned car, which belonged to Tammy McVey Wright, on Sunday. Wright has been missing since March 25. (C.J. LeMaster, WTVA)
"You know, the automobile had been set on fire," Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar said. "It is very likely that the individual was not alive at the time the fire was set, so we might not be able to determine from the remains what the cause of death was at this time."
Though it could be days before the state pathology lab determines to whom those remains belong, Tolar said they already have a strong suspicion.
"I feel pretty comfortable and I think the other investigators would agree with me in that respect [that it is Wright]," Tolar said. "We don't have any other missing persons. It is her car."
Just how long the vehicle's been there remains unclear, but it was found on a dirt road, most of which had washed away from the recent rains. Authorities said that means the fire could have happened weeks ago.
"We have reason to believe that the vehicle had been there for some time due to new growth coming back from where the fire had burned the woodland," Alcorn County Chief Deputy Jimmy Hopkins said.
Hopkins, the chief investigator on the case, said the crime scene tells him the fire was not only deliberately set, but used to get rid of evidence.
There's also the possibility that the car fire also spread to hundreds of trees nearby, which, in this rural section of Alcorn County, might have gone unnoticed.
"We are looking into checking 911 records to see if there'd been a fire previous to this, or if one had actually been reported," Hopkins said.
Sheriff's deputies continue to actively pursue any leads from people who either knew Wright or may have seen something suspicious on Alcorn County Road 335.
For those who may have information related to this case, they're asked to please call the Alcorn County Sheriff's Department at (662) 286-5521.
Charred fragments mark the scene where Tammy McVey Wright's car was found.
It had been burned to such a degree that parts were falling off the vehicle as it was towed away by authorities.
Inside, Alcorn County sheriff's deputies found unidentifiable human remains.
Authorities say a fisherman discovered the burned car, which belonged to Tammy McVey Wright, on Sunday. Wright has been missing since March 25. (C.J. LeMaster, WTVA)
"You know, the automobile had been set on fire," Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar said. "It is very likely that the individual was not alive at the time the fire was set, so we might not be able to determine from the remains what the cause of death was at this time."
Though it could be days before the state pathology lab determines to whom those remains belong, Tolar said they already have a strong suspicion.
"I feel pretty comfortable and I think the other investigators would agree with me in that respect [that it is Wright]," Tolar said. "We don't have any other missing persons. It is her car."
Just how long the vehicle's been there remains unclear, but it was found on a dirt road, most of which had washed away from the recent rains. Authorities said that means the fire could have happened weeks ago.
"We have reason to believe that the vehicle had been there for some time due to new growth coming back from where the fire had burned the woodland," Alcorn County Chief Deputy Jimmy Hopkins said.
Hopkins, the chief investigator on the case, said the crime scene tells him the fire was not only deliberately set, but used to get rid of evidence.
There's also the possibility that the car fire also spread to hundreds of trees nearby, which, in this rural section of Alcorn County, might have gone unnoticed.
"We are looking into checking 911 records to see if there'd been a fire previous to this, or if one had actually been reported," Hopkins said.
Sheriff's deputies continue to actively pursue any leads from people who either knew Wright or may have seen something suspicious on Alcorn County Road 335.
For those who may have information related to this case, they're asked to please call the Alcorn County Sheriff's Department at (662) 286-5521.
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