Wagoner County deputies are investigating after someone found a body on fire Wednesday night near the Jackson Bay area.
Neighbors say their shock soon turned into horror.
“We were hoping it was a mannequin at first because a burning body is not something you want to discover right next to your home,” said Emily Dixon, who lives not far from the crime scene.
A quick hello to a neighbor was the stop that she'll never forget.
“There was a fire and I was just going to tease him like what was he doing burning in that kind of weather,” she said.
That's when he told her he found a body in the flames.
“There was no doubt that's exactly what it was. You could see one of the arms, one of the hands, laying over to the side,” said Dixon.
Deputies soon roped the area off...encompassing Dixon's car.
They later learned about neighbors hearing large pops in the area...like sounds from a shotgun.
But Sheriff Chris Elliott said the body was too badly burned to confirm any gunshots.
“We observed what we believe is trauma to the body, but we don't know what caused that trauma,” said Elliott. “We believe we could have a possible homicide suspect out there.”
Now residents are locking their doors and hoping for justice for the person whose life ended on the side of the road.
“I hoping they will find somebody that they can definitely say this is it this is the guilty party,” said Dixon. “Because right now, the idea of just randomness...I think that's the scary part.”
The body has been sent to the state medical examiner to determine cause of death.
Deputies are looking for anyone with information to call the Wagoner County Sheriff's Office.
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