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Update: Identity sought of man found in dumpster

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UPDATE; Identity sought of man found in dumpster

Posted: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 3:16 pm

Update: Identity sought of man found in dumpster | Body found in dumpster, Nottingham Apartment

Murfreesboro fire and police are investigating a body found in a dumpsster at Nottingham Apartments off Greenland Drive.

Murfreesboro fire and police investigators are trying to determine the identity of a white man whose burned body was found in a dumpster in the back of Nottingham apartments near MTSU.

Firefighters discovered the badly burned body inside a dumpster about 6:30 Wednesday morning at Nottingham Apartments on Greenland Drive.

“When they extinguished it, they found the body,” Swader said.

The man wore a T-shirt reading “Raiders Crossing” or “Raiders Campus,” said Assistant Fire Chief Allen Swader. His age has not been determined but the body was “definitely not a child.”

There were no signs of other wounds on the man’s body, he said.

People who have a missing male friend or relative are asked to call Murfreesboro Fire Department at 893-1422, Murfreesboro Police Department at 893-2717 or Crime Stoppers at 893-STOP. Also, people may call the Tennessee Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017.

Swader cautioned the discovery of the man’s body seems to be an isolated case.

“I don’t want to bring panic to that area,” Swader said. “I know a lot of college students live here. I don’t want to set panic or fear to them.”

The complex is still safe, he said, adding there is no need to panic.

Police spokesmen Kyle Evans said detectives and fire investigators were conducting a joint investigation.

“Our detectives are working with the fire investigators to process the scene and speak to witnesses,” Evans said. “We’ll assist Murfreesboro Fire Department in the investigation and criminal prosecution of the investigation if there are indications foul play is involved.”

Swader said the body was taken to the office of state medical examiner Dr. Bruce Levy.

“It will probably be a few days before we get any information back from them,” Swader said.

Evans said the cause and manner of death has not been determined.

“Our main priority is to find out who this young man is,” Evans said. “We want to find out exactly who this person is and that will lead us to our next step.”

People who have a friend or roommate they can’t locate should call Murfreesboro Police at 893-1311 to report a missing person.

Fire investigators took samples of materials in the dumpster. He didn’t yet know if an accelerant was located.

Materials will be sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations’ crime laboratory for analysis.

Police officers were taking with witnesses and neighbors in an effort to gain information about the man.

Tagged under Body found in dumpster, Nottingham Apartment

Member Opinions:

By: SocEtTuem on 11/4/09
My God, what is happening here? Crime has just gone through the proverbial roof.

By: Alaskadave on 11/4/09
Welcome to the new Murfreesboro!

By: mm123 on 11/4/09
"The complex is still safe..."

Really? Do we know that for sure? I know they don't want to cause a panic, but if I lived in or near that complex I probably wouldn't feel very comfortable right now.

Another drug deal gone bad? Another college student in the wrong place at the wrong time? You said it, Alaskadave, welcome to the new Murfreesboro!

By: Geana on 11/4/09
Soc and Dave, as much as we've butted heads in this past here, I'm just as stunned. What is going on in this city?!?!?

By: Farmall on 11/5/09
I knew a young woman that lived there in 95, she moved out after 3 months said the place was just to scary, she didn't feel safe.

By: spook on 11/5/09
Too many bad guys, not enough good guys in our city. Too many offenders getting off with a "slap on the wrist". We need to get tough on crime and stay tough! With that said, we still don't know if this was an actual crime or a tragic accident. There have been cases in the past of drunks climbing into dumpsters to sleep and ending up burned to death by pranksters setting the dumpster on fire.

By: attagirl on 11/5/09
It's not enough to just "get tough on crime." Putting all the focus on the sentencing of criminals rather than the causes of crime wastes time and money and resources.

By: Bosda on 11/5/09
This happens whenever the economy tanks.
Just like the 70s, when it was worth your life to take a walk after dark in most cities.

By: SocEtTuem on 11/5/09
Spook writes "Too many bad guys, not enough good guys in our city. Too many offenders getting off with a "slap on the wrist". We need to get tough on crime and stay tough!"

I agree. To many pleas to lesser offenses, too little time in the cross-bar hotel. Moreover, prison should be made a place so completely unplesant, no one would ever want to go or return. We have tried the psycho-babble and it has failed utterly. Time to return to real consequences. Extremely unpleasant ones.

By: Farmall on 11/10/09
If you assualt someone and slice them up, you get 45 days. You don't think thats enough time to be tough on crime?