Vehicle Fire In Durham Turns Into Murder Investigation

Taylor, 33, had returned to his Orange County home for Father's Day weekend. Police found his body inside his rental car after responding to a vehicle fire call at the intersection of Juniper Street and Park Avenue.

Police say they thought Taylor had died from the fire but after taking his body to Duke University Medical Center, investigators found that he had a gunshot wound to the chest.

"It is rather unusual for something like this to occur," says Capt. R.C. Spivey of the Durham Police Department.

Police believe Taylor was shot while he was in the car. They say the heat from the car's engine may have started the fire when the car ended up in a ditch.

Friends of Taylor say they are surprised that his car was in east Durham after dropping off his friend in west Durham and was heading further west toward Orange County.

"It just does not make sense why he was in the direction he was in," says Chris Lee, a friend of Taylor. "He was in the complete opposite direction from home."

Anyone who has any information about the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at919-683-1200.