KOUTS, Ind. (AP) – A northwestern Indiana coroner says he hopes to confirm the identity of a man whose body was found in the rubble of a barn fire by using information from the man's artificial knees.
Porter County coroner Chuck Harris said he believes he knows the identity of the man found dead Monday near the town of Kouts, but is waiting for proof before releasing that information.
Harris tells The Times of Munster an autopsy determined the man died of smoke inhalation.
Investigators haven't said what caused the fire that was reported about 1:15 a.m. in a pole barn about 20 miles southeast of Gary, but Harris said he has heard nothing to indicate foul play is suspected.