Los Angeles: On Monday, February 23, 2004, at about 3:55 a.m., Foothill Area patrol officers responded to a radio call "meet the Los Angeles Fire Department regarding a dead body that was found inside a burning vehicle". The officers were directed to the alley located east of Foothill Boulevard and south of Arroyo Street, in the City of Sylmar.

When the officers arrived, they were told that the fire department had responded to a car fire reported by a motorist who was passing by on a near by freeway. The fire department put out the fire and found unidentifiable human remains in the car trunk of a late model black Mercedes.

There is no suspect information and the motive is unknown.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call Foothill Homicide Detectives, at 818-834-3115. On weekends and during off-hours, contact the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFUL (1-877-529-3855).

This news release was prepared by Public Information Officer April Harding, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.