By Meghan McCormick
The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office has identified the body found inside a burned vehicle Sunday morning on Norman's east side.
Cherokee Ballard, public information officer for the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office, said investigators have identified the person as Julian Ramirez Cazarez, 46, of Oklahoma City.
Cazarez's cause of death was listed as "asphixial strangulation," Ballard said. His death is considered a homicide.
Norman Police Master Officer Jennifer Newell said Cazarez was reported as a missing person to the Oklahoma City Police Department Monday.
Cazarez's body was found after someone reported a vehicle fire at 4:47 a.m. Sunday in the vicinity of 144th Avenue NE and Indian Hills Road. Police, the Norman Fire Department and EMSStat were dispatched to the scene.
When emergency crews arrived, they found a four-door 1999 Saturn on fire, police said. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, investigators searched the car and found Cazarez inside the trunk.
Anyone who has information about the case is asked to call Norman Crime Stoppers at 366-7867.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
