Bodies found in burned out vehicle

Two bodies were discovered in a burned out vehicle in western P.E.I. early Friday morning.

Firefighters and RCMP responded to the fire near Tignish, on Martin Road in St. Felix, shortly before 1 a.m. After the fire was extinguished the two bodies were found inside.

The incident is considered suspicious, and is under investigation by the RCMP major crime unit, the provincial fire marshal's office and the provincial coroner's office.

"It's an odd place for a vehicle to wind up and especially to be on fire with two people deceased inside," said RCMP Sgt. Andrew Blackadar.

The vehicle was from P.E.I., but the registered owner is not from the western part of the Island. RCMP believe they know who was in the vehicle, but are not releasing that information until it can be absolutely confirmed. Police say they have informed those believed to be the immediate family.

"The RCMP major crime unit is continuing the investigation and they're trying to retrace the steps of the people who were in the vehicle last night," said Blackadar.

The bodies are being transported to Halifax Friday night for autopsy. A police dog was on the scene and a forensics team is examining the vehicle with assistance from the fire marshal's office.

Blackadar said police believe this was an isolated incident.

"It certainly wasn't a random act of violence," he said.

"This is something that was contained in that area in that vehicle, so we don't feel at this point the public has any cause for alarm."

Blackadar expects police will have more information on the situation early to mid next week.