Forsyth Investigators Identify Body Found Near Burning Vehicle

Forsyth investigators have identified the Cumming man whose body was found near a burning vehicle on Pilgrim Mill Circle off Pilgrim Mill Road in northeast Forsyth County Monday afternoon.

William Joseph Barefoot, 53, of Cumming, was discovered at the scene of a vehicle fire, according to Capt. Tim House of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's deputies and fire units responded to a report of a vehicle fire following a 911 call from a nearby resident around 12:59 p.m. Monday.

Capt. House told Cumming Patch that the caller said, "There was a car burning in a ditch and there was a man's body laying next to it."

House said the incident at the time was considered suspect since there were no witnesses and the vehicle was burned beyond recognition to the extent that the license tag was melted.

"We treated it as a crime scene," he said.

But since Monday afternoon's initial investigation, House said that Barefoot's death, "is not believed to be the result of foul play."

Barefoot was later identified after investigators located his wallet and contacted next of kin.

His body was taken to the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) Medical Examiner's Office for a scheduled autopsy. House said Barefoot's death is still under investigation.