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Body Found Burning in Cornfield

Maureen Wurtz

SARPY COUNTY (KPTM)- Around 8 o'clock Monday morning, a  body was found burning in a cornfield outside of Gretna.

 What seemed like just a fire in a cornfield, quickly turned into a crime scene Monday morning.

"One of the farmers in the area saw a fire, and came over to where the fire was," said Lt. Steve Grabowski, with the Sarpy County Sheriff's office. "(He) noticed possible other than just debris burning."

"I got the grass fire out a the top, that's when I noticed it appeared to be a body down in the ditch that was burning." said the witness. The farmer, who discovered the body asked to remain anonymous. "It's obviously disturbing."

 Disturbing enough that investigators suspect foul play. "A special dog is looking around for different things related to arson," said Grabowski.

At least four area law enforcement agencies were at the scene for hours. "We had the state patrol helicopter come out and fly around to see if there are any other vehicles left in the area," said Grabowski.

 Officials said the total area the fire covered wasn't too big, around 20 feet, but the body was so badly burned, they can't tell if it was male or female.

"We'll be looking for missing person in the area over the last six months, and then expand," said Grabowski.

The crime scene is just over the railroad tracks off of Highway 6. "They'll get off the highway, and they'll dump trash here," said the farmer. "So, I kind of thought someone dumped trash there and was burning it."

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sarpy County Sheriff's office at 402-593-2288.