PENN HILLS (KDKA) – Police are investigating after a body was found inside a burned out car in Penn Hills Friday morning.

The Penn Hills Fire Department was called to Jackson Alley around 1:15 a.m. for a vehicle on fire. Once they got the fire under control, they discovered a male body in the trunk of the car.

According to police, the body had been bound and was possibly covered in a sheet.

“What we can tell you right now is that it appears the body was bound with possibly a sheet or maybe some duct tape,” Allegheny County Police Lt. Andrew Schurman said. “At this point, they cannot positively identify the victim.”

The car has a Pennsylvania license plate. Detectives said they’re looking into who owns the car and also considering any missing persons cases.

Police do not know how this person was killed, but that will be determined by an autopsy.

Neighbors believe the isolation of the area has something to do with the crime.

“If you’re going to do a crime, in one way it does make sense you go to a quiet neighborhood, I never thought that would have happened around here,” said Daniel Guy. “A lot of seniors live on this street and around here, and they really don’t come out much.”

A medical examiner may need to use dental records to identify the victim.

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