Volusia County Sheriff's Office: Body of human found in burning van in Deltona

DELTONA -- The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation after a body was found inside a burning vehicle in woods down a dirt trail off of Lake Helen Osteen Road near Haulover Boulevard early this morning.

The initial call about the fire came in from a resident at about 12:10 a.m. Thursday leading to the grisly discovery of the body, Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said.

"The caller thought the flames might have been from a brush fire. However, when the Deltona Fire Department arrived on scene, firefighters found a minivan engulfed in flames," Davidson said. "As firefighters doused the blaze, deputies were called to respond. The first deputy arrived on the scene at 12:49 a.m. and minutes later confirmed that a body was inside the vehicle. The sex of the victim hasn’t been determined." A Sheriff’s helicopter was dispatched to fly over the scene to help look for clues. The Fire Marshal’s Office also was responding. The Sheriff’s Office’s Major Case Unit is investigating the circumastances of the death.

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