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Body Found in Burning Car Is Identified

Oct. 14, 2004 – For the third time in less than a year, police have discovered a body in a burned-out vehicle on St. Croix.
The latest victim was found in a vehicle in Bellevue Estate, in an area sometimes known as the Little Princess, on Thursday.
Sgt. Thomas Hannah, police department spokesman, said there was nothing so far in the investigation that indicated the three incidents are related. In the first two incidents the victims were adult males. Hannah said Friday afternoon the third victim was identified as Earl Walters, 39, of Estate Cotton Valley. The caused of death has not been determined at this time and is being investigated as suspicious.
Hannah said a caller on 911 a little after 4 p.m. on Thursday reported a burning vehicle and sounds of an explosion. It was first reported as a possible vehicle accident.
Hannah said officers arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire and on inspection found the charred remains of a body on the front seat.
This is less than a month after the body of Shama Francis, 19, was found in a burned-out vehicle at a beach in Campo Rico, outside Frederiksted. The death of that Estate Concordia teenager, on Sept. 21, was ruled a homicide. (See "Burned Body Identified As Teenager's").
In an incident last December that was also ruled a homicide, according to published reports, a body was found on Hess Road. (See "No Identification Yet Of Incinerated Body").
Hannah said the vehicle found Thursday was a black Mercedes-Benz.
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