A rancher in Washington County found U student Zach Ruble’s car engulfed in flames last Thursday.
The rancher ran home and called for help, but by the time Washington County Sheriff deputies found the freshman bioengineering major’s car on a lone dirt road near Zion National Park, the fire had already burned itself out, police said. Deputies found a body inside the smoldering KIA Sorento.
Remi Barron, a spokesman for the U, said the car belongs to Ruble’s family, who is waiting to find out if the body was a family member.
The body was too badly burned to identify8212;deputies couldn’t even determine a gender8212;and was sent to the state medical examiner in Salt Lake City for an autopsy and identification, said Washington County Det. Nate Abbott. The examiner has not confirmed whether or not the body belongs to Ruble, but no one has seen or heard from him since April 1.
Ruble came to the U in the fall, leaving his hometown of Maysville, Kentucky, where his family lives. James Ruble, the student’s father, declined to comment until the examiner confirms whether or not the body is his son’s.
Deputies have not been able to rule the incident as a homicide, suicide or accidental death, just like two similar incidents last month.
On March 9, Salt Lake County Sheriff deputies found a burning car at a Big Cottonwood Canyon campground. They found 28-year-old Lorin Fischer’s body inside.
On March 20, deputies responded to a call about a car engulfed in flames near Saltair. Firefighters pulled 35-year-old Gregory Nelson’s body out of the smoking vehicle.
Lt. Don Hutson of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office doubts that either case will ever be classified one way or another.
Capt. Lynn Mitchell of U Police said their agency knows nothing more than Washington County has made public.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department has not responded to a request for comment.