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Date of incident: 7/19/19 at 1:28 p.m.
Location: Near Mahogany Butte, Approximately 45 miles southeast of Bend, Or
Vehicle: 2011 Dodge Crew Cab pick-up, unknown color or license plate
Narrative:
On 7/19/19 at 1:28 p.m., the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office was notified by the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center (COIDC) of a truck fire near Mahogany Butte. USFS fire crews were on scene and extinguished the fire. A USFS Law Enforcement Officer responded to the scene and later determined human remains were in the vehicle. A Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Deputy from the Special Services Unit responded to the scene, along with Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Detectives. The Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Deschutes County Medical Examiner's Office. Due to the late hour the scene was held overnight to allow investigators to work in the daylight.
On 7/20/19, Detectives returned to the scene, along with an investigator from the Deschutes County Medical Examiner's Office and an Arson investigator from the Oregon State Police. Investigators worked throughout the day to collect evidence and to determine the cause of the fire and to identify the deceased person inside the vehicle. Due to the extreme fire damage to the vehicle and the remains, the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office in Clackamas will be assisting in the determining the identity of the deceased person in the coming weeks. Based upon the investigation at this point, foul play is not suspected in this death.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Detective Division will be continuing to investigate this incident and will be assisted by the Oregon State Police Arson Unit. Further information will be released after the remains are positively identified.
Prepared by: Lt. Chad Davis, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Detective Division