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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 18, 2008

LIHU'E
Body in burned van may be that of missing man

Kaua'i police have identified the body in a burned van found Wednesday morning in Waimea as an adult male, but aren't sure enough of the man's identity to release it, Assistant Police Chief Roy Asher said.

The man who owns the van has not been seen by family since before 6 a.m. Wednesday, the time police and firefighters responded to a brushfire near the Russian Fort.

A van was engulfed by the flames, according to Kaua'i County spokeswoman Mary Daubert. When the fire was extinguished at 7:10 a.m., firefighters and police found the remains of a person inside.

"We have to reiterate that based on our initial investigation, we do not believe that there was foul play," Asher said.

Out of concern for the missing man's family, police will not release a name until they have positive identification through dental records or DNA, Asher said. He did say that police believe the brushfire started with the van.

Police ask that anyone who was in the Russian Fort area early Wednesday contact police with information that may help: Detective Patrick Balbarino, 241-1684; Police Dispatch, 241-1711; or CrimeStoppers, 241-1887.