Body discovered after pickup truck burns in SW Harris County on Christmas morning, HCSO says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A body was discovered after deputies responded to a burning pickup truck in southwest Harris County, authorities said.

According to the Houston Fire Department, firefighters responded to the fire in the 10,000 block of Fellows Road near Del Papa Street on Thursday morning.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said that deputies then discovered a body in the pickup's backseat.

According to the HCSO Detective Mario Quintanilla, authorities could not determine the identity of the victim or how the person died at the scene.

Medical examiners are working to identify the victim, according to officials.

Quintanilla said the vehicle was likely dumped and then torched in that spot.

"It's isolated, there's nothing out here. Very few cameras, very few witnesses," Quintanilla said. "This is one of the perfect spots to do something like this."

Quintanilla added that fog in the area may hinder the investigation as deputies look for surveillance video to identify anyone who may have left the scene.

Deputies said the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office will look into the fire and determine if an accelerant was used.

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