Burned body found in West Bloomfield identified

West Bloomfield Township — The body of a woman found inside a burned vehicle behind a former school was identified on Saturday.

West Bloomfield Police said the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman as Diana Pesserl, 31, of West Bloomfield, according to a statement from the police department.

Pesserl died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen, Oakland County authorities said Friday night.

One person was in police custody in connection the woman’s homicide and West Bloomfield police searched a township residence Friday afternoon looking for evidence in the case.

Deputy Chief Curt Lawson said officers executed a search warrant on a residence just after 2 p.m. at a home in the township. Divers with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department spent several hours searching Orchard Lake for evidence in the case but cleared the area about 3 p.m., Lawson said.

Police had searched a boat launch facility at Orchard Lake near Pontiac Trail for evidence on Friday afternoon, Lawson said. Lawson declined to say why authorities believed that facility was connected to the homicide.

“We certainly have a lot of resources involved in the investigation,” Lawson said.

Pesserl’s remains were found after responders extinguished flames that had fully engulfed a vehicle around 1:30 a.m. behind the former Pine Lake Elementary.

Police continue to hold a person in connection with the homicide. Lawson said the person was being held on an outstanding warrant. A second individual was questioned and released.

Lawson declined to provide the age, residence or gender of either person.

The incident is not related to reports of a missing Farmington Hills woman who disappeared after leaving her job last Friday, Lawson said.

nterry@detroitnews.com

@NicquelTerry

Staff Writer Jennifer Chambers contributed to this story.