Police ID body found in burned vehicle

Yuma police have identified the body of a man found in a burned vehicle on Saturday, Jan. 11. as 45-year-old Patrick Covington, who was the registered owner of the vehicle.

At approximately 11:22 p.m. that evening, Yuma police and firefighters responded to a vehicle fire in the 3100 block of West 24th Street. Upon their arrival on scene, they found an SUV-type vehicle fully-engulfed in flames.

Once the fire had been extinguished, Yuma firefighters found a body inside the vehicle. Due to the condition of the body, identification and cause of death could not be established at the time.

Yuma Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Lori Franklin said that an autopsy was performed on Wednesday and the cause of death has been listed as undetermined.

“At this time, the investigation has found no evidence to suggest foul play,” Franklin stated..

No antemortem wounds – injuries a body received before death – were found on Covington’s body during the autopsy either.

Franklin explained that the reason the cause of death has been listed as undetermined is that there is no way to know if the fire started as a result of some type of accident or if it was self-caused.

The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call them at 928-373-4700 or 78-Crime at 928-782-7463 to remain anonymous.