A body recovered from a burned-down cabin in California has been identified as Christopher Dorner, the former Los Angeles police officer accused of killing four people during a massive manhunt.
Although police did not immediately reveal the cause of death, they said they identified Dorner through a dental examination.
Dorner, 33, had fled to the mountain cabin Tuesday in Mentone, Calif., just south of Big Bear Lake, following a gunfight with sheriff’s deputies.
During the shooting he killed one deputy and wounded another.
The cabin went up in flames as law enforcement agents attempted to enter the building.
On Wednesday, San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon told reporters police did not purposely start the blaze.
“I can tell you that it was not on purpose, we did not intentionally burn down that cabin to get Mr. Dorner out,” McMahon said.
Toxicology tests could take weeks to complete.
Dorner, a U.S. Navy veteran, had been on the run since authorities identified him as a suspect in the Feb. 3 killing of Monica Quan, a former police captain’s daughter, and her fiancé in Irvine, Calif.
Police also believe Dorner killed one officer and injured two others in two separate incidents during the intense manhunt.
A couple who own a cabin-style condo in Big Bear Lake claim Dorner on Tuesday briefly held them captive in the property, which happened to be located across the street from where police had set up a command during the manhunt.
According to the couple, Dorner was hiding upstairs in the rental unit when they arrived to prepare it for tourists. He drew a gun, "jumped out and hollered 'stay calm,"' Jim Reynolds told reporters Wednesday night.
"He said, 'I don't have a problem with you, so I'm not going to hurt you,"' Jim Reynolds said. "I didn't believe him; I thought he was going to kill us."
The ex-police officer then forced Jim and Karen Reynolds into a bedroom, tying them up and covering their heads with pillowcases.
Dorner eventually fled in the couple’s car.
Police have not confirmed the couple’s account, and the sheriff's department has declined to discuss how Dorner could have eluded officers.
Dorner was fired from the police department five years ago for falsely accusing his training officer of kicking a mentally ill suspect, but he claims he was a victim of racism.
In a searing manifesto posted on Facebook, Dorner has declared war on LAPD, listing names of targets he believes have wronged him.
"You're going to see what a whistleblower can do when you take everything from him especially his NAME!!!" he wrote in his post. "You have awoken a sleeping giant."
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said he would reopen the investigation into Dorner’s firing to assure the public that the police force is fair and transparent.
