The body of a Valdosta man found in a burned house Wednesday has been tentatively identified.

According to reports from the Lowndes County Coroner’s Office and Valdosta Fire Chief J.D. Rice, the victim is believed to be 46-year-old Bennie Ray Price.

The body was sent to a lab outside of Macon for an autopsy to determine cause of death as well as to confirm identity. The coroner had not received the results at press time.  

At 4 a.m. Wednesday, in the 2500 block of Lonesome Dove Drive, the Valdosta Fire Department responded to a house fire after a nearby neighbor awoke to an “orange glow” and dialed 911, said Rice. It appeared the fire started in the kitchen area at the rear of the house, possibly due to unattended cooking, Rice said.

“The body was found in the living room located in the front of the house and appeared to be a white male in his 40s,” he added. “After a quick knock down of the fire, our guys were able to get inside and do a search.”

In addition to the fire department, the Valdosta Police Department, Emergency Medical Services and Lowndes County coroner were dispatched to the scene.

No nearby properties were damaged. No one else was in the residence at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.