Feb 19, 2013

Man, 65, believed to have died from spontaneous combustion

Always bizarre, spontaneous human combustion pops up from time to time, but without any good explanation as to why.  Sadly, we add one more victim to the list.

By Rachel Quigley

Police believe a man may have died from spontaneous combustion after they found his burned body in his home but no other fire damage or evidence of accelerant use.
Sequoyah County authorities are determining the circumstances surrounding the death of 65-year-old Danny Vanzandt after his charred remains were found at his Tulsa home on Monday.

After neighbors saw smoke coming from the house they called the fire service and attempted to put out what they thought was a pile of burning trash.
They soon realized it was in fact a body.
Sequoyah County authorities are attempting to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of 65-year-old Danny Vanzandt after his charred remains were found at his Tulsa home on Monday.
Sequoyah County: Authorities are attempting to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of 65-year-old Danny Vanzandt after his charred remains were found at his Tulsa home on Monday

Victim: The 65-year-old had a history of heavy drinking and smoking, but Sheriff Lockhart said the way his body was burned was inconsistent with an accidental fire - such as from a cigarette dropping
Expert: Sheriff Lockhart said the way the victim's body was burned was inconsistent with an accidental fire - such as from a cigarette dropping

Interior: The floor below the 65-year-old was not damaged and there was no sign that any accelerant was used
Interior: The floor below the 65-year-old was not damaged and there was no sign that any accelerant was used
Sequoyah County Sheriff Ron Lockhart said: 'This is very bizarre. You’re thinking someone poured something on him, but there was no fire source.

'The body was burned and it was incinerated. I think there is only about 200 cases (of spontaneous combustion) worldwide. I'm not saying this is what it is, but I haven't ruled it out.'
Sheriff Lockhart spent about 20 years as an arson investigator for the Fort Smith, Arkansas Police Department, and said he had never seen anything like it.
The floor below the 65-year-old was not damaged and there was no sign that any accelerant was used.

Authorities said the man had a history of heavy drinking and smoking, according to Tulsa World.
But Lockhart said the way his body was burned was inconsistent with an accidental fire - such as from a cigarette dropping.
Family members said they noticed the back window of the man’s pickup truck was busted out.
An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death.
Young Sik Kim
Hawaii: Young Sik Kim was found enveloped in blue flames in December 1956. By the time firemen arrived on the scene, Kim and his easy chair were ashes. Strangely enough, nearby curtains and clothing were untouched by fire

Mrs. Mary H. Reeser
Mrs. Mary H. Reeser
The remains of Mrs Mary H Reeser, left, which were largely ashes, were found among the remains of a chair in which she had been sitting, right, and only part of her left footand her backbone remained, below
Limbs: The remains of Mrs Mary H. Reeser remains after she allegedly spontaneously decombusted
Limbs: The remains of Mrs Mary H. Reeser remains after she allegedly spontaneously decombusted


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2281158/Man-65-believed-died-spontaneous-combustion-pile-charred-remains-trace-source-damage.html#ixzz2LPG5p2H6