Alabama police are investigating the discovery of the body of a missing woman, found shot and burned.
Jermiera Ivory Fowler, 31, the identified victim, had allegedly set out to meet someone concerning an online purchase before her sudden disappearance. According to the Birmingham Police Department, Fowler’s last known whereabouts were in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 31.
In response to a distressing report of a torched body, officers were dispatched to a site along the 200 block of Sellers Road in Birmingham. Upon their arrival, they found the body of Fowler, gravely burned and displaying evident signs of violent assault. Emergency crews declared Fowler dead at the scene, and a subsequent examination uncovered she had been shot.
Shock went through the community following the gruesome discovery. Herbert Brown, a neighbor whose property borders the crime scene, spoke about the terrifying moment when he saw a large fire from his window and discovered the burning body upon investigation. Firefighters attended to the fire, and police executed an extensive sweep of the surrounding area through the night.
The Birmingham Police Department is categorizing Fowler’s death as a homicide and is actively chasing leads to apprehend the guilty parties.
Though Fowler’s disappearance was initially thought to be connected to a potential meet-up with an individual for a Facebook Marketplace transaction, officials later stated they were unable to verify that the meeting had taken place.