Arkansas County sheriff IDs body found in burned vehicle as missing teen

ARKANSAS COUNTY, Ark. – Authorities in Arkansas County say the body found a in burned vehicle late last week has been identified as a missing teen.

According to the Arkansas County Sheriff’s Office, teams at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory identified the body as 19-year-old Johnny Howard.

The sheriff's office reported that deputies discovered the body inside the burned vehicle on Hartz Seed Road just outside of Stuttgart late in the afternoon on May 4. Detectives arrived at the scene to begin their investigation and the body was sent to the crime lab for identification.

Deputies noted that Howard had been reported missing on May 4, with police records showing that the report was filed less than two hours after the body was found.

Investigators said the truck, a Ford F-250, had been reported as stolen two days before i...