Body discovered inside burned-out vehicle in Abbotsford deemed not to be suspicious

UPDATE Dec. 8:Homicide detectives have said they are not treating the discovery of a body in a burned-out car in Abbotsford on Dec. 5 as suspicious.

Sgt. David Lee from IHIT said a detailed autopsy was conducted by detectives and the B.C. Coroners Service on the victim, and the cause of death was found to be non-suspicious.

Consequently, the investigation has been handed back to the Abbotsford Police Department. Police say the victim will not be identified at this time.

Abbotsford police say they have handed their investigation into the discovery of a body inside a burned-out vehicle over to the RCMP's homicide section.

In a statement Monday, the police department said the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team will take over, now that the case involves a suspicious death.

At approximately 2:40 a.m. PTonDec. 5, police and Abbotsford Fire Rescue Services were calledto the 5000-block of Riverside Street, an area of farmland in the north of the city, following reports of a vehicle fire.

Major crime detectives and the Forensic Identification Unit were called tothe scene afterhuman remains were found inside the vehicle, an earlier statement said.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation is still in itsearly stages.

Police are not releasing any further details.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-4448.