Morrow County officials release name of car fire victim
Nick Bechtel
nbechtel@marionstar.com
CARDINGTON – Officials have released the name of the woman found in a burning car on Monday.
The Morrow County Sheriff's Office listed Patricia A. Jones, 76, as the lone victim of a vehicle fire discovered by neighbors on Morrow County Road 24, south of Cardington.
Jones lived on Morrow County Road 25, south of the location where her body was found, according to deputies.
Neighbors reported the fire around 9 p.m. Monday. The Cardington Fire Department found the vehicle around in the back of a wooded area near 3097 Morrow County Road 24.
After putting out the flames, firefighters discovered Jones' body in the driver's seat.
An autopsy report done Tuesday revealed the woman did not have any gunshot wounds, stab wounds or other blunt force trauma markings on her body. The cause of death remains under investigation, although officials do not suspect criminal intent.
The vehicle, a 2008 Buick, was registered to Jones. Morrow County Sheriff Steven Brenneman said the vehicle was destroyed in the fire, calling the flames "extremely hot." The State Fire Marshal's Office has collected samples from the vehicle and scene, and it will conduct lab tests to determine if anything was added to the fire.
Officials are still investigating the cause of death and the cause of the fire.
Calls to the Morrow County Sheriff's Office were not returned.
Twitter: @NickMStar