'Shocked, stumped’: Neighbors shaken up after body found in burning vehicle in Robeson County

ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WMBF) – Authorities in Robeson County said a body was found in a burning vehicle Wednesday morning.

Just after 8:30 a.m., deputies responded to the 300 block of Greely Road in the Maxton area for reports of a car fire with a body inside, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

“Mostly shocked and stumped of the incident,” Simmie Locklear, who found the body, said.

Locklear said he looked outside Wednesday morning and saw a car smoking in the pasture behind his house.

“Walked out to investigate a little further and discovered there was a body in it,” Locklear said.

The body will be sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to identify the person and determine a cause of death.

Locklear and others admit they’re shaken up.

“It makes me feel uncomfortable to have something that close to the house happen,” he said.

“I was shocked, you know we’re a very close-knit community," Debbie Locklear said. “We have some real good people who live here and when there’s tragedies then you wonder what has entered into our community that we were not aware of.”

Authorities said the RCSO homicide and arson divisions are investigating.

If you have any information on the case, call the RCSO at 910-671-3170 or 910-671-3100.

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