The body of a man found in a burnt out car last month in Hammonton, N.J. was identified Wednesday.
Ross Heimlich was identified as the man found dead and burned beyond recognition inside a car along the 100 block of Linda Ave., according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
At 3:18 a.m. on Sept. 29, the Hammonton police and fire departments responded to a 911 report of a vehicle fire in the 100 block of Linda Avenue. When they arrived, the Chrysler Sebring was engulfed in flames.
After putting out the fire, they discovered charred human remains, later ID’ed as 23-year-old Heimlich of Somerdale, N.J.
An autopsy was done later that day but it took more than month to officially ID Heimlich due to the condition of his body, authorities said.
At the time of the discovery Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel hinted at the possibility of foul play.
“There is evidence of blunt force trauma to the body and evidence that the individual may have been alive when the fire was set,” said Housel.
The family of Heimlich spoke out after the discovery fearing that Heimlich as in the car. No one had heard from him and he was known to drive a 2004 Gold Chrysler Sebring like the one found ablaze.
Prosecutors believe that the car was heading east on the White Horse Pike away from Camden County. They then said that the explosion likely took place around 3 a.m., about 20 minutes before the car fire was reported.
“If anybody observed this car at that time, contact us, it’s very important,” said Housel at the time. “We need to develop each and every lead that’s possible here.”
If you have any information on this developing story, please call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS).
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