Officials identify body dumped on side of road in Dr. Phillips

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County investigators have identified the body of a man who was dumped on the side of a road in the Dr. Phillips area.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, a passerby called 911 just before 9 a.m. Sunday after finding the body of 20-year-old Cameron Sparrow in the area of South Apopka Vineland and Kilgore roads.

Deputies told WFTV the person who called 911 noticed a vehicle parked in a strange location and witnessed someone get in the car and leave the area. When the passerby further investigated, he spotted the body and called authorities, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said there's no trauma to the body. Detectives are hoping to retrace Sparrow's final moments to determine what led up to his body being left on the side of the road.

"They're certain he didn’t walk there and fall down. Apparently, something has taken place suspicious in nature," Jeff Williamson of the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Williamson said the investigation is being treated as a homicide until the medical examiner can determine a cause of death.

"Dead bodies on the side of the road are rare for any area," Williamson said.

"It's disappointing. It's a nice area. We've lived there for 24 years," said neighbor Jim Snell.

Deputies said the neighborhood is an active area, well-traveled by bikers and joggers, so it's unlikely the victim was there for a long period of time before being discovered.

WFTV