Officials work to ID body found following fire in Parma

Authorities are working to obtain a positive identification on the body found following a fire.

Early Monday morning, the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a fire at a residence at 500 N. Broad Street in Parma.

The fire departments from Parma, Lilbourn and New Madrid responded along with New Madrid County sheriff deputies. While extinguishing the flames, fire personnel located a body in a recreational vehicle parked next to the residence and was also burned in the fire.

An autopsy on the body was conducted Wednesday. According to New Madrid County Coroner George DeLisle, while authorities believe they know who the victim is, they are using DNA sampling to verify the identity.

The cause of the blaze is also under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office and the New Madrid Sheriff’s Department.