Indiana authorities confirm identity of charred body

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- A burned body found near Mount Vernon, Ill., has been identified as that of a Davenport man who went missing last week, investigators said.

Charles Lee "Chris" Nixon, 37, was last seen Nov. 25 at his home, where his roommate later found a blood stain and notified authorities. Nixon's body was found the next day about 240 miles away burning on rural property south of Interstate 64 in Jefferson County, Ill., according to that county's sheriff, Roger Mulch.

Mulch said Thursday that Nixon's identity was confirmed by an Indiana pathologist using dental records.

Two men arrested Monday in Virginia and suspected in Nixon's death will be extradited to Iowa, Scott County Attorney Bill Davis said. Those suspects are being held on previous warrants of burglary, theft and escape and will remain jailed without bond during the homicide investigation, Davis said.

"I haven't filed murder charges yet because I don't know in detail the culpability of the two individuals," Davis said.

Davis, who believes the murder happened in Davenport, said the suspects have agreed to be extradited and will arrive in Iowa next week via a private bus service specializing in moving inmates.

A motive has not been determined, but officials said the three knew each other -- possibly from time they spent in jail.

After being notified of the blood stain in Nixon's home, Davenport police asked Virginia authorities to stake out a home in Yale, where they found Nixon's car parked outside Monday and the two suspects nearby. They were captured after a brief chase.

Nixon's body was found Nov. 26 near a creek east of Mount Vernon, Ill. Mulch has said the victim died of blunt trauma, according to an autopsy, and might have been dumped there two to four hours before his body was found.

Investigators with Mulch's department met in Mount Vernon with Davenport police Thursday, before Mulch announced that Nixon's body had been identified.

"The pieces of this puzzle are fitting together very well," he said.