Body found bound, burning near Mass. railroad tracks ID'd

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The woman found dead and burning near railroad tracks in Massachusetts last week has been identified by authorities as a New Jersey woman.

A spokeswoman for the Plymouth district attorney's office says the woman found late Tuesday night in Bridgewater has been identified as 29-year-old Ashley Bortner.

District Attorney Timothy Cruz said it appears Bortner was targeted and her death was not a random attack.

She was found with her hands tied behind her back and to her feet. Police discovered the body down an embankment in a relatively secluded area after responding to a call of a suspicious vehicle. Police arrived to find Bortner's body engulfed in flames, reports CBS Boston.

Cruz told CBS Boston it appears Bortner was killed somewhere else and her body was brought to the tracks.

"All of our investigative resources are devoted to determining who the perpetrator or perpetrators of this crime are," Cruz told the station.

Family members say although she's from Paulsboro, New Jersey, Bortner had been living in Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood for several years.

Bridgewater, where body was found, is about 25 miles south of Boston.

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.