Authorities think they have ID of body found burned in Oklahoma

McCurtain County, Okla., authorities believe they know the identity of a burned body recently discovered by a birdwatcher on federal land.
Fred Romine has been missing since early May, said McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy.
The remains were found in a burned van by a birdwatcher in a remote area near the Sherwood community about 18 miles north of Broken Bow.
The body was found on federal forest service land, making the investigation eligible for assistance from the FBI and the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation. "The FBI have sent some crime specialists down here to help with the investigation," Clardy said.
The remains of the body were sent to the Oklahoma medical examiner for identification and to determine the cause of death.
"We think the body is Fred Romine, and the family believes the body is him. But it may take as long as six months to positively identify the body," Clardy said.
"We may go out on a limb, but we also think foul play is involved," he said.
The length of time to confirm the body frustrates Clardy and the family.
"It aggravates me and the family, but it is what it is and is out of our control. The FBI and OSBI is shifting through the evidence to determine the cause the death," he said.
Romine was last seen May 6 in the Broken Bow area. He was driving a 2005 brown Honda Odyssey to Paris, Texas, to officiate a college baseball game, Clardy said.
Game officials reported they never saw Romine.

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