By Rita Farlow and Dominick Tao, Times Staff Writers
Monday, October 11, 2010
LARGO — Police have identified the 27-year-old woman whose body was found in a burning trash bin Saturday night, but her name won't be released until her next of kin is notified.
A preliminary autopsy report by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office indicated there were no signs of trauma on the woman's body other than severe burns, Largo police said Monday.
A state fire marshal arson-detecting dog found no accelerants such as kerosene or gasoline, police said.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have information on what happened to contact the Largo Police Department at (727) 587-6730.
Police said they were called to the trash bin fire about 8 p.m. Saturday at 14147 Walsingham Road. Once the fire had been put out, the woman's body was found in the charred debris.
Steve Gowski, the owner of nearby Goose's Sports Bar, said Sunday that police told him a homeless man also was found near the trash bin and was hospitalized.
People at the nearby Indian Rocks Shopping Center at Walsingham and Indian Rocks roads said Monday the woman may be part of a homeless couple who had frequented the strip mall in recent days.
Elliott Wood, who works in the plaza, said he noticed a homeless couple hanging around Friday.
"They were kind of new to the scene," he said.
Times staff writer Dominick Tao contributed to this report.