Body Found in Fairfax District SUV Not Identified

An autopsy could be conducted as early as Monday on the decomposing body of a man found in the rear seat of a Cadillac Escalade in the Fairfax district, according to the coroner's office.

The body is listed as "John Doe," said Lt. Joe Bale. The next step could be to take DNA samples from the remains and compare them with relatives of the person to whom the Escalade is registered. Dental records could also be used, Bale said.

Despite the advanced state of decomposition of the remains, investigators may be able to determine the cause of death, he said. For example, the body could display multiple stab wounds.

"The case is a homicide," Coroner's Investigator Dana Bee said.

A stench coming from the car, which was parked near Willoughby and Genesee avenues (map), prompted someone to call police about 10 a.m. Saturday, according to Los Angeles police.

Authorities did not say who the vehicle was registered to. It was found next to the city limit between Los Angeles and West Hollywood, two blocks northeast of Fairfax High School.

Police urged anyone with information regarding the case to contact West Bureau homicide detectives at 213-382-9470 or 1-877-LAPD-24-7.

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