Police release info on burning truck

PORTALES — Although identity confirmation on the body found over three weeks ago in a burning truck outside Portales is not expected for many more weeks, officials Tuesday released information on the vehicle’s owner and said he has not been seen since the incident.

Roosevelt County Sheriff Malin Parker confirmed that the burning pickup truck and the property on which it was located belonged to Portales resident Steve Gephart.

An investigation began Dec. 12, the night Portales firefighters extinguished a blaze on the Chevrolet truck on a property near the intersection of Roosevelt Road T and New Mexico State Road 267 and found a body in the driver seat.

Due to the extent of damage to the body, conclusive forensic results on its identity first expected within days could take two or three months, Parker said. Officials are waiting on tests back from the state fire marshal and the office of the state's medical investigator.

Until then, officials will not speculate on the identity of that body, Parker said.

As to the possibility of foul play in the incident, Parker said there would be “no determination on homicide” until those tests come back.

OMI officials have produced a report concerning the individual’s cause of death but “have not given us a final authorized report,” Parker said.

Parker declined to say if Gephart is considered a missing person.

A member of Gephart’s family declined to comment on Tuesday.