Hardee Homicide May Have Highlands Connection

A body found Saturday in Hardee County may have ties here in Highlands County, with local law enforcement assisting in the investigation.

Lt. Tim Lethbridge, with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office's criminal investigation unit, said the Hardee County Sheriff's Office responded to a burned vehicle on Saturday. Inside, authorities discovered an unidentified body.

Lethbridge added that the discovery was made close to the Highlands County line.

"There are certain leads that are being investigated here in Highlands County," he said.

Old Town Creek Road, at 7:36 a.m., Saturday, was the precise location where the car was found, according to Major Claude Harris with the Hardee County Sheriff's Office.

"No exact cause of death has been determined at this time," pending the findings of the medical examiner, Harris said.

The victim, who was discovered in the car's trunk, has still not been identified, according to Harris. The case continues to be treated as a homicide.

Lethbridge added that they have a probable name, but did not have confirmation as of Monday.

Regarding the Highlands County connection, Harris said a local address was listed on the vehicle's registration.

On Monday's Highlands County Sheriff's Office Incident by Location Report, there was an address listed alongside the homicide offense, although there was no indication of what the connection could be to the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hardee County Sheriff's Office at 863- 773-4144 and ask for Detective Sgt. John Shivers.