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Donor Pays For Cremation Of Man Found In Burned SUV

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2008

TAMPA - About two months after James Patrick Fry's body was found in his burned sport utility vehicle, an anonymous donor has contributed the necessary funds for Fry to be cremated.

The homicide victim's 18-year-old daughter, Stephanie Fry, had not been able to afford the service.

"I can't even really afford food, and this is just a blessing from God," she said. "I'm really shocked. I just don't know what to say."

James Fry has been cremated, and he will be returned to his family soon, said Lynn Ciccarello, an office manager of Brewer & Sons Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

The donor who paid $650 for the service doesn't know James or Stephanie Fry, Ciccarello said. He read about Fry's plight online.

"He felt bad that no one in the community or anywhere had stepped up to help this girl," Ciccarello said. "He called and put it on his credit card. He didn't know any of the Fry family at all. He just read about it, and thought it was sad."

Fry's body was found Aug. 23. He suffered smoke inhalation and burns. No arrests have been made.

Firefighters were called about 2:10 a.m. Aug. 23 to a brush fire near Taylor and Skewlee roads in Thonotosassa. They found the Chevrolet SUV in flames near woods and the 47-year-old South Tampa man's body inside.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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