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Iowa man’s body found in burning car in church parking lot

The body of a Sioux City, Iowa man was found inside a burning car in the parking lot of a Des Moines church.
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The body of a Sioux City, Iowa man was found inside a burning car in the parking lot of a Des Moines church.

Firefighters were sent to investigate a car fire at Abundant Life Church in the 3700 block of East Sheridan Avenue just before 10 p.m. Sunday, February 8, 2015. A neighbor had reportedly said she heard a “pop” and then a “whooshing” sound, and she saw the burning Nissan Altima in the church parking lot when she looked outside according to KCCI. Firefighters found the car had struck a snow bank at the back of the parking lot, WHO reported.

When the fire was under control, they found the body of 51-year-old Patrick James Murphy II in the driver’s seat of the car. Murphy likely died of smoke inhalation, the Polk County medical examiner said in a Des Moines Register report. There was no evidence of trauma nor any suspicion of foul play, the report said.   A toxicology examination on the body was ordered.

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