Woman's burning body discovered on Texas hiking trail, police find 'accelerant evidence'

A woman's body was discovered engulfed in flames on a nature trail in Texas.

Officers were called about a body found at the Prue Road Trailhead near the Leon Creek Greenway in San Antonio on Friday (April 10), around 8:52am local time, as per a press briefing from Sgt. Raul Cardenas of the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD).

Cardenas explained that two passersby noticed “fire and smoke” while on their walk. As they approached to see, they “spotted a body and quickly notified the police.”

He mentioned that the fire department also responded to the site.

Cardenas confirmed that the victim was a woman, stating that her body had been “burned.” 

He mentioned that they had not yet determined her age or whether the burns caused her death or if other factors were involved.

“There is some evidence of accelerants. She was set on fire. How that happened exactly, we don’t know,” Cardenas reiterated.

When questioned about whether the death was accidental or deliberate, the sergeant informed the press at the location, “We’re unable to determine that at this very early stage.”

He concluded that they will be able to tell if foul play was present after a medical examiner evaluates the body.

The nearby trails continued to be accessible after the event, according to Cardenas.

In a statement given to PEOPLE, a representative for the San Antonio Fire Department confirmed that firefighters arrived “just before 9am" on April 10 and that the crews “put out the flames on the body and surrounding area” upon their arrival.

The spokesperson added that the individual was deceased by the time help arrived.