DeKalb County police believe a woman was shot in the head before her body was burned in a minivan Friday night, officials said.

Police department spokesman Sgt. J.D. Spencer said Monday afternoon that the woman’s death is being investigated as a homicide. Her identity and age have not been released.

Crews were called to the scene of a vehicle fire late Friday night in the 4200 block of Riverlake Way, the report states. After the blaze was put out, firefighters spotted the woman’s body in the front passenger seat of the white 2005 Dodge Caravan.

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Investigators were initially unable to even determine the victim’s gender due to the burns from the fire. A parking sticker for Georgia College was on the back of the minivan, according to the report. Police were able to use the vehicle’s license plate to find the name of the registered owner.

The investigation is ongoing and police have not announced any arrests in connection with the homicide.

Police previously said that the DeKalb medical examiner’s office was working to determine a cause and manner of death.

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In other news:

The county had two cases of West Nile virus last year, with one of them being fatal.

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DeKalb County firefighter Preston Fant, 53, died Sept. 8, 2025, after responding to a commercial structure fire. His memorial service will be at Truist Park on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (Courtesy of the DeKalb County Fire Department)

Credit: DeKalb County Fire Department

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