From A&E, this is Cold Case Files, the podcast. It's December 23rd, 1998. In the small hours of the morning, an explosion is heard in San Diego.

9-1-1 emergency. an explosion is heard in San Diego.

911 emergency?

Yes, we just heard a huge boom, like a gas explosion or a car blew up or something.

San Diego's fire department responds to the 911 call in the single vehicle blazing

away along the Hoya scenic drive. While a journalist rolls tape, the flames are

doused, smoke begins to clear, and the charred remains of a human body first become visible

in the passenger seat of the car.

Fire Inspector Mike Merrickin is called in to investigate.

The vehicle was located on the Mike Merrickkin is called in to investigate.

The vehicle was located on the side of the road underneath some heavy brush and foliage,

and it was basically totally destroyed by the fire.

Here to have been a convertible and the whole top of the vehicle was burned.

The intensity of the fire tells Merrickin he is looking at a possible case of arson.

Trace evidence of an accelerant, most likely gasoline,

heightened suspicion someone torch the car

with a body inside.

American gets on the phone to his boss and then to San Diego homicide.

Detective John Taff takes one look at the scene and agrees with American's assessment.

There was no body damage to the car.

It wasn't like he spun out of control and rolled it and crashed and burned.

That didn't happen. The car was in good shape other than the arson fire. So we immediately thought

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