Authorities also hope to obtain dental records to positively identify the victim and determine whether she is an 81-year-old Southfield woman who has been missing since last week.
Southfield Police were contacted Saturday morning by Highland Park Police after the body was found on the back seat of a burning silver 2005 Honda Accord in an alley behind 196 W. Buena Vista.
The vehicle is registered to the Southfield woman, a part-time Southfield Parks and Recreation Department employee whose identity has not been released by investigators.
Southfield Police Lt. Nick Loussia said police went to the woman's home on Winchester Saturday around noon but found no signs of her or of forced entry. However, Loussia said the visit "yielded evidence that suggests that the homeowner was the victim of a crime and that an assault or struggle took place inside of the home."
"The last contact anyone had with the homeowner was on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, at approximately 7:30 p.m.," Loussia said. "This incident is now being investigated as a homicide by the Southfield Police Department with the assistance of the Highland Park Police Department."
Highland Park Detective Paul Thomas said Monday, "The case is being handed over to them (Southfield) but we will assist them in any way we can."
"We are fairly certain it is a homicide and also the same woman but we have yet to have positive ID," Thomas said. "… She was found lying on the floor in the back seat of the burned car. That sounds like homicide to me."
The victim is Helen Gale, who lived alone in Southfield. Her body and car were discovered 10 miles away Saturday in Highland Park. Southfield police said Tuesday the cause of death hasn't been determined.
A service to celebrate Gale's life will be held Wednesday at the Southfield Parks and Recreation Building. She worked part-time in the department.
Police ask anyone with tips to call 248-796-5500.
No comments:
Post a Comment