A “death investigation” is now underway in Etowah County in regard to a body which was found burned beyond recognition near the Egypt area.

The small community is located in the western portion of the county just northwest of Gadsden – where the volunteer fire department received a call around 1:00am Thursday, concerning a fire in the woods, down a logging road on Pine Hill Trail.

ABC 33/40 is reporting that firefighters arrived at the location to find an SUV with a body inside – both burned beyond recognition.

The body, believed to be that of a male, was sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

Those remains have been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for an autopsy in an effort to determine the identity of the individual and determine an exact cause of death.

(ABC 33/40/www.abc3340.com)