St. Clair County Coroner Dennis Russell said the body was identified as Derrick DeWayne Wilson, 36, of Pinson.
Russell said Wilson was also known as “Goate.”
St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles said Wilson’s remains were found in the trunk of a late model, dark grey Dodge Charger, also severely burned, on Camp Winnataska Road near Prescott on Friday, Oct. 9.
Surles said two men picking up scrap iron in the area found the vehicle and reported it.
“A lady saw the car the week before (Saturday, Oct. 3) but didn’t report it,” he said.
Authorities are unsure how long the vehicle was in that location.
Surles said Wilson was last seen in Birmingham on the afternoon of Sept. 17, Wilson’s birthday.
“He had contact with some of his relatives that afternoon,” Surles said.
Surles said the matter is a homicide, and investigators have a couple of suspects they are looking at in connection with Wilson’s murder.
“We have some real good, solid information,” he said. “We are tracking down those leads and are hoping for an arrest soon.”
Russell said the cause of death was still under investigation Monday.
Surles said a projectile (bullet) was found during the autopsy.
Surles said authorities are unsure where Wilson was killed; however investigators are treating the homicide as if it was committed in St. Clair County.
“We have no information leading us to a location where the murder happened,” he said.
Anyone with information regarding the murder is asked to call the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department at 205-884-3333 or 205-884-6840.
