Lunenburg County is investigating the discovery of a body found in a burning car in a wooded area near Victoria.

The Lunenburg Sheriff's Office said it discovered the body Sunday evening in a burning 1996 Honda Accord that matched the description of a vehicle reported missing with a 25-year-old man from Blackstone.

Sheriff Arthur Townsend said the car was discovered as local firefighters and state forestry workers battled a blaze in the woods west of state Route 49, about 3 miles north of Victoria.

Deputy Brian Burns, who had investigated reports earlier Sunday of trash-bin fires at two locations, pinpointed the blaze in the woods next to a utility right-of-way near Route 49 (Falls Road).

Burns discovered the remains in the front passenger seat of the burned car about 8 p.m.

The state medical examiner's office in Richmond is conducting an autopsy to identify the body.

State police and nearby police and sheriff's departments are assisting Lunenburg in the investigation, which is led by investigator Michael Landry.

Investigators are seeking information from anyone who may have seen the car -- a 1996, four-door, light-colored Honda Accord -- or traffic entering or leaving the utility right-of-way at 1953 Falls Road. The right-of-way also can be reached by Modest Creek Road.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lunenburg Sheriff's Office at (434) 696-4452 or Crime Solvers at (434) 696-3100.
Contact Michael Martz at (804) 649-6964 or mmartz@timesdispatch.com.