Body found in burning car at Walmart

(UPDATED WITH 911 CALL) Police discovered a body inside a burning vehicle at the Walmart parking lot this morning.
Sandusky Register Staff
Jan 19, 2012



Port Clinton fire and rescue and Ottawa County sheriff's deputies responded shortly before 5 a.m. to the 2800 block of East Harbor Road, where they found the car on fire.

The body was transported to the Lucas County coroner's office to be identified. The sheriff's office and the Ottawa County coroner's office are investigating the incident, according to a news release from the sheriff.

(UPDATE) Investigators from the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department have confirmed that the car, an Audi, was registered to a Walmart employee who was scheduled to work Wednesday morning.

Deputies say no foul play is suspected in the incident.

Fire officials said when they arrived at the scene, the car was fully engulfed and it was clear the man inside the car was not alive.

Officials would not speculate about what might have caused the vehicle to catch fire.

Read more about this incident in Thursday's Register.




Horrifying is the only thing I can say right now. 


 Mobile Meth Lab ??

Tru Grit

 This is a WTF moment.


Moderators have removed this comment because it contained profanity. Discussion Guidelines


They say those words every day on public television... ha... I bet it made the moderator laugh uncontrollablely.. but it still got deleted --- WAAAAH!


crimes knows no boundaries

Kottage Kat

This happened in Huron County many years ago. The Coroner ruled it a suicide, the victem was a woman.  Just saying.   Body was found in burning car on Derussey Rd.  Victem was from Cleveland.

I heart goes out to the family of the victem. Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted.



Truth or Dare

According to WTOL News @ Noon, this vehicle belongs to an employee of Wal Mart that was scheduled to work the A.M. shift.  Because of the extent of the fire and the burned body, an autopsy is necessary to identify.  They'll know if the victim was the owner of the vehicle, the employee.  Foul play was ruled out.

This is someone's nightmare today!  Thoughts and prayers go out for the victim and the family that if they haven't already, will be receiving a knock on their door, or a phone call! 

All taken

 This happened a couple years ago at the Norwalk walmart! I know I shop alot at Walmart but I am not sure I want to die there.



Samething happened in Norwalk a couple years ago.  


Many years ago, my grandpa's car caught  on fire with him in it, after he  went out to start it. ( an Olds Delta  late seventies model),  luckily one of his neighbors saw flames under the hood and pulled him  to safety.   

Just sayin'  it's a possiblity.



probably had the automotive department work on it prior?


So sad. Thoughts & Prayers are with the victims Family


I like the parking lot photo.



How sad for the man's family. My thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time.




The parking lot photo tells the whole story.


 I am not as observant as Restless1...I cant tell a thing by looking at the parking lot photo.


to are not alone.  I don't know what the other person is seeing, but all I see is a burned area where a car once sat, some burned grass and some tire tracks.  What that is to indicate is beyond my comprehension, unless "guessing" is required and that I can do really well.  But that would be unfair. 

Sitting In The ...

How sad....My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and this is a perfect example why first responders will never be paid enough pretty hard to forget something like this.


Wow, burning to death must be one of the worst, most painfull ways to die.  It reminds me of all the people that jumped from the World Trade Center, rather than burn to death. Very sad........




Spontaneous human combustion

Some cars are known for having the radiator  catch fire and blow through the firewall.   The old renaults were known for it.


sad sad sad


very sad.


Also heard that a local man committed suicide in his car parked at the American Legion on Hayes Ave.  Just wondered if anyone has heard anything about that as nothing posted in the Register yet.


Did you call the Register??? or did you get this on your police scanner??


 @redclownnose2003 - yes, I've heard about it and can verify it's validity. Can't tell you how, but - from a source very close to the gf of the deceased. 

Sounds like a VERY VERY VERY sad situation....... 


FYI  "All Take"  the fire in Norwalk was a suicide.   They haven't said anything about this one that I know of.  This person may have had the car running and it caught fire and they couldn't get out or they fell alseep and were overcome by fumes....lots of things could have happened. 

Whatever it was, my sympathy to the family and friend of the person who lost their life.  What a tragic thing to have happen. 

All taken

 @wiredmama222. FYI I didn't say anything about the PC person committing suicide. All I said was there was a person and a car fire in Norwalk at walmart a couple years ago, just as a few others said the same thing . Get off my a@@ and don't put words in my mouth. 

All taken

 Death ruled a suicide!!! Hmmmm..... Even though I DID NOT say that in the first place.


 FYI: Wiredmamma222



 @redclownnose. The body found in American Legion parking lot was Joe Butler. Unfortunately a suicide! RIP Joe!!!


I can't understand how this is "no foul play". Under the circimstances, it just seems a little early to make that judgement.


The man in the car had a heart attack and was smoking a cigar at the time. This is what caused the fire.  And quite frankly, some of you people are just cruel and unusual when it comes to things like this. The man does have a family, so could you be a little kinder. Ya know, have a heart or what they call human!


FYI to you weirdos who ASSUME the most bizarre stories....the man who passed away in the burning vehicle was a very nice man and no where near suicidal....and there was NOT foul play involved, it was just an unfortunate event due to the car...he was a very happy man who did in fact work at walmart...and he was NOT smoking a cigar at this time, the cause is being linked to the car as it was an older vehicle and he may have slumped over and put his foot on the gas and revved his engine to cause it to overheat and catch is UNRELATED to anything you people are talking about. It was simply a tragic event and leave it at that.

also, please. get a life and stop speculating. I know the family personally as well as the deceased for a very long time....move on and find something else to speak about.

Thank you


assume.  to make an a** of u and me.

the one that mi...

Sadly, autopsy reports cause of death to be self inflected gunshot wound. So yes, he did kill himslef. It is very sad to think that his life seemed that bad for him to do this, and no one knew he felt like this. He was a wonderful person and i enjoyed our talks at walmart. He will be greatly missed and loved by so many. I pray he is at peace now and my the Lord comfort all his family and friends and give them peace and strength to get through this.



 The person who claimed to know how this man felt and how happy he was probably should not have speculated themselves! Just because someone can put on a happy face and go to work or put on a happy face in front of "friends" does not make one a happy person! It makes that person a good actor or a very strong person up until the breaking point! Shame on you for getting on here and reading people up one side and down the other when it is you that ended up with egg on your face! Not saying anyone wants to be right about the situation and it doesn't make it any easier on the family who are dealing with this tragedy. It's a shame no matter how it all came about! No one ever really knows what is going on with someone! RIP sir!