Authorities Identify Victim in Unexplained Death Investigation

The person authorities found in a burning vehicle at 3330 W. Sitka Street on Thursday morning was identified today.

Heriberto Cortes, 28, of 8753 Kauai Court #303, was identified using fingerprints, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. His family, who do not live in the United States, have been notified.

At 12:23 a.m. on Thursday, Hillsborough County fire officials responded to a vehicle on fire that was 25 feet from the roadway in an orange grove, according to the sheriff's office.

When the fire was extinguished, a body - Cortes - was discovered in the passenger area of a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, according to the sheriff's office. The vehicle belonged to the victim.

The vehicle was impounded, and the body was turned over to the medical examiner's office to determine the cause of death, which remains unknown.