Auto theft, burning still a mystery in Greene County

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 2, 2005

GREENE COUNTY-Two unrelated incidents Sunday in Greene County left one vehicle destroyed by fire and another missing.

The first call received by Greene County authorities led them t a field just off County Road 117 where a vehicle was found torched. The incident has left many questions for authorities as little evidence and information was available.

The vehicle is believed to be a Dodge Durango, possible gray in color; however, since the vehicle identification number was destroyed in the fire the investigation has been difficult.

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Several questions including whom the vehicle belonged to, where it came from and whether or not it was stolen continue to hamper progress.

Greene County Sheriff’s Department representative Syphus Stanton said important parts of the vehicle were destroyed when it was burned, however, the investigation would continue.

“The tires on the vehicle were totally destroyed,” Stanton said. “The VIN was also destroyed by the fire.

By the time authorities were able to find the vehicle the damage had already been done. Stanton said no one had been seen near the vehicle or in the area when the call came through.

Later in the same day another call came through regarding another Dodge vehicle. This time the call was concerning the theft of a white 2000 Dodge Dakota crew cab truck.

“He said that he parked the vehicle in his uncles yard and left to go to a club in Sumter County,” Stanton said. “When he came back the next morning it was gone.”

The actual incident is believed to have occurred late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, but the crime was not discovered until 9 a.m. Sunday morning.

Stanton said when the young man made his way back to Greene County he discovered the vehicle was missing.

“He came back at about 9 a.m. the next morning and found it missing from his uncles yard,” Stanton said. “They don’t know at this time who took it. They questioned the uncle about it and he said he had not seen anyone around.”

The incident occurred on County Road 20 in the Mount Hebron Community.

Both incidents remain under investigation.