RCMP are investigating a truck fire and human remains found in the fire debris east of Oliver on April 30. Police say the incident is not suspicious. (Dan Walton / Aberdeen Publishing)

The RCMP says the case of human remains found in a burned out (possibly stolen) truck near Oliver last week is not suspicious.

But that assertion has been met with profound suspicion on social media.

A Ford pickup truck was found burned out in a remote area off McKinney Road on April 30. The vehicle was subjected to such “extensive damage” that the person’s identity had not been confirmed.

Police have not yet determined the cause of the fire and will not release the identity of the deceased.

However, the victim’s identity has become very public on local Facebook pages.

According to RCMP, the pickup truck may have been stolen from Penticton.

Oliver RCMP Sgt. Blaine Gervais reported that police were called to the remote location at approximately 8:40 a.m. Upon arrival, they observed a recently burned truck, and on closer inspection, they noticed human remains in the fire debris.

The officer said it is unknown why the victim was in the vehicle.

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The Oliver Chronicle asked the RCMP if they were treating the incident as a crime, but they responded by saying the “origin of the fire is not deemed suspicious and criminality has been ruled out.”

But some locals have expressed deep skepticism online.

“I get that Oliver is having a bit of a crime problem, but how on earth is this not suspicious?” asked one reader.

“This is such BS! I don’t care who the victim is, (and I do know), it deserves further looking into,” another reader stated.

“Maybe he fell asleep smoking and was stoned. That even sounds suspicious to me,” a concerned reader commented.

Another resident asked how is a burnt body in a truck not suspicious?

“How is a burned body in a disposed of truck not suspicious? The dead person can’t hide the vehicle and light the fire all by him or herself.”

The Chronicle reached out to the RCMP regarding some people’s perception that the death was suspicious.

But RCMP media relations officer Sgt. Janelle Shoihet responded by saying: “I cannot provide any specifics, but what I can say is that the investigation has determined there was no criminality involved in the man’s death.”

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the nearest police agency or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

RCMP are investigating a truck fire and human remains found in the fire debris east of Oliver on April 30. (Dan Walton / Aberdeen Publishing)

RCMP are investigating a truck fire and human remains found in the fire debris east of Oliver on April 30. (Dan Walton / Aberdeen Publishing)