A body found burned beyond recognition was discovered on the floorboard of a car in a Pike County wrecker service’s yard on Wednesday — a week after the car was involved in a fiery crash.
Pike County sheriff’s deputies and the Mississippi Highway Patrol are investigating the one-car accident that occurred Feb. 4 on Emerald-State Line Road.
Authorities believe the body may be that of a man who was reported missing from Tangipahoa Parish, La.
Pike County Chief Deputy Steve Rushing said the accident occurred about 2 a.m. on Feb. 4, adding that deputies arrived at the scene to find that the car had struck a tree, had heavy front-end damage and was on fire.
Authorities have not identified the body, pending an autopsy and further tests.
But according to information from the Tangipahoa sheriff’s office, the car involved in the accident — a white 1996 four-door Chevrolet Lumina — was registered to Henry Booth, 36, of Houston, Texas. Booth has family in the Kentwood, La., area, and was reported missing on Feb. 3.
Rushing said investigators do not believe at this time that the death was the result of foul play, but said they are waiting on an autopsy to confirm the cause of death and the person’s identity.
Rushing said the body was discovered on the back floorboard when Pike and Tangipahoa detectives were examining the car at the Reliable Auto Service storage yard after following up on the missing persons case. Rushing said the crash may have thrown the body to the back.
