YOUNGSTOWN Body is found in burned vehicle

Witnesses heard 'pops' then saw flames.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's first homicide victim of the year was discovered early today inside a burned vehicle parked behind a vacant house at 124 Harvard St.
The body was not recognizable as man or woman.
The identity and exact cause of death will be determined by David M. Kennedy, Mahoning County coroner.
At 12:49 a.m., the 911 center received two calls about a car fire.
Firefighters were on the scene a few minutes later. After the fire was out, firefighters saw the badly burned body.
The vehicle, a 1993 Ford Explorer registered to Georgina Rivera of Fairgreen Avenue, was completely burned, except for its silver wire rims, police said.
Cracked skull
The victim was seen lying across the back seat, with a cracked skull and a foot sticking out the rear passenger side window, reports show.
Two witnesses in the area reported hearing a series of "pops," then saw flames. One believed someone was inside because the vehicle horn kept blowing.
The vehicle was towed from the North Side crime scene and held for homicide detectives.
Statistical comparison
Last year, the city recorded its first and second homicide Jan. 12, ending the year with a total of 33.
The first victim, Angela M. Loibl, 24, of Compass West, Austintown, had been shot in the face in the kitchen at T-N-T bar, 702 Steel St. about 1 a.m. and died at 2 p.m.
Anthony M. Talley, 19, of Youngstown was found shot to death around 9:15 p.m. in the driveway of 615 Broadway, his girlfriend's home.
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