by Bruce Gietzen, Brandon Hartman and Noel Brennan
MCLENNAN COUNTY - Sources close to the investigation tell News Channel 25 authorities have surveillance video showing 18-year old Baylor student Will Patterson purchasing containers and fuel from a nearby store the morning he died when his car caught fire. Reports of the car fire came in less than 15 minutes after the fuel was purchased.
The McLennan County Sheriff's Office received a preliminary report from Southwest Institute Forensic Science on Tuesday, but the finding for cause of death is still pending. Police do not suspect foul play.
"There's not something out there that people need to be worried about," said Chief Deputy Randy Plemons. "This was an isolated incident."
Passersby called 9-1-1 last Thursday morning about 6:45 A.M. to report a black Cadillac CTS was on fire on Eastland Lake Drive, just outside the Waco city limits.
First responders found a body burned beyond recognition in the back seat of that vehicle, and used dental records to identify Patterson the next day.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was called in to help the Sheriff's Office with the investigation.
Evidence collected by ATF and the Sheriff's Office was sent to the Texas Fire Marshal's Office Lab in Austin. Evidence taken from inside the Cadillac is being tested, and could reveal how the fire started.
"We're trying to determine if there was any type of accelerant, or anything of that nature that would be in the vehicle," explained Plemons. "We're trying to verify what that was."
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon in Patterson's hometown of San Antonio at Woodland Baptist Church.
