Smoke spotted by a Schoharie County Sheriff’s Patrol Wednesday led to a gruesome find:
A victim inside a burned vehicle about 1,200 feet off Route 20, east of Route 145 in the Town of Sharon.
The cause of death has been ruled a suicide, said Sheriff’s Investigator Bruce Baker.
Following an autopsy, the victim has been identified as Victor Klemarow, 57, of 1642 State Route 20, Town of Sharon.
Investigator Baker said the deputy spotted a significant amount of smoke coming from a wooded area up behind a home on the south side of Route 10 at about 5pm.
Upon investigation, the deputy located a vehicle, fully involved, burning about 1,000-1,200 feet up behind the Route 20 home.
Because the area was so muddy, access was difficult, but once the deputy was able to get close enough to the car, he was able to determine there was someone inside, deceased, Investigator Baker said.
The Sharon Springs Fire Department was called to the scene, but again, because access was so difficult, they were unable to get their equipment to the scene.
Because police were uncertain exactly what they were dealing with and based on what they found at the scene, Investigator Baker said they and the Schoharie County Fire Coordinator’s Office made the decision to secure the scene and continue their investigation once it was light.
Thursday, they called in State Haz-Mat Response Unit and the FBI Bomb Disposal Unit among others to make sure if was safe to continue, Investigator Baker said, and Route 20 traffic was closed down to one lane in the eastbound direction around the site.
Their fear wasn’t a bomb, but possible unexploded ammunition and combustible gasses.
“Our first priority quickly became the first responders,” Investigator Baker said, “and we put mechanisms in place to protect them. We weren’t sure what we had and so we took extreme precaution. It was better to emphasize safety.”
Once the scene was determined to be safe, Mr. Klemarow’s body was removed by County Coroner Matthew Coltrain and taken to the Albany Medical Center for an autopsy.
Mr. Klemarow owned the Route 20 home.
Also assisting at the scene were State Police and County EMS.