Illinois authorities investigate homicide

Illinois State Police investigators have received a "good response" from a call for the public to help in the investigation of a death in rural Pulaski County, police spokesman Dale Poole said Monday.

Trae Hannah, 23, of Anna, Ill., was found Jan. 4 in a burned out car. The events leading up to the discovery of the charred remains of Hannah and his 1993 Mercury Tracer are being investigated as a homicide, Poole said.

Investigators kept a tight rein on information in the case. They are not releasing any information about whether Hannah died as a result of the fire or because of injuries sustained before the blaze was ignited.

Hannah was last seen alive in Union and Pulaski counties on Dec. 29. Anyone with information about the death, or who believes they saw Hannah in the white Mercury around that time are being urged to call the state police at (618) 845-3740 or the Pulaski County sheriff at (618) 748-9124.