Crime & Courts

Human remains found near Morganton identified

Albert Alexander Austin
Albert Alexander Austin Burke County Sheriff’s Office

The remains of one of two people found in a burned car near Morganton on Sunday have been identified, and authorities are treating the deaths as homicides.

The remains of Albert Alexander Austin, 35, of Forest City were found in a Cadillac Deville on Canoe Creek Way, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

A $1,000 Burke County Crime Stoppers reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

Call the Burke County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 828-438-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 828-437-3333 any time.

The Cadillac belonged to Austin but is registered to 29-year-old Spencer Murray, also of Forest City, Sheriff Steve Whisenant said.

Joe Marusak: 704-358-5067, @jmarusak

This story was originally published September 20, 2016 at 7:54 PM with the headline "Human remains found near Morganton identified."

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