BENTON, Mo. -- The body of a Scott County woman was found in a burning car along a farm road off County Road 323 near Kelso, Mo., on Wednesday, sparking a homicide investigation that became public knowledge Friday.

The body was found after firefighters were called to a car fire about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said Friday. The car was found in a corn field about 100 feet from the farm road, muddied by recent rains, leading Walter to believe someone tried to hide the crime. Deputies were called after firefighters found the body.

The sheriff's department wasn't ready to call the case a murder investigation Friday, but said the discovery of the body was being investigated as a homicide.

Walter activated the SEMO Major Case Squad, and by midnight at least 20 investigators were on the scene.

"We are treating this very seriously as a homicide," said Walter.

The victim's identity had not been released late Friday. "We have spoke with family members," Walter said.

The burned vehicle was taken to an undisclosed location for more thorough investigation. Several items were found verifying the body was a local woman's, Walter said.

Walter said he doesn't believe this was a random homicide, or that the public is in danger. He said the public can call the sheriff's department if anyone remembers seeing someone walking in the area Wednesday evening.

"People may think we have all the information we need, but if someone saw something, even the smallest bit of information can be helpful to the case," Walter said.

The crime scene had been cleared, but a path could clearly be seen and charred corn stalks revealed where the car burned.

Many locals first heard of the homicide Friday, said Myriah Miller, a clerk at Seyer's Kelso Kwik Stop. Miller said many customers have come in, shocked to learn of such a crime occurring so close to home.

Scott County Coroner Scott Amick said the fire made identifying the body difficult.

"The fire was so involved, it didn't really leave us with much to work with, but I'm pretty confident we'll still be able figure some things out," Amick said Friday.

Amick said Friday he was awaiting autopsy results.

Southeast Missourian staff writer Samantha Rinehart contributed to this report.