``Anything that could be remotely connected to this case ... we're going to rule it out, and that's what we're trying to do with the gas can,'' said Thomas Dawson, Auburn's assistant police chief.
Burk, a freshman from Marietta, Ga., was found shot and wounded on a roadside about five miles from the school Tuesday night and later died at a hospital. Her 2001 Honda Civic was discovered burning in a parking lot on campus.
Dawson said the gas can was found in the downtown area after the killing, and is being tested for possible DNA evidence or fingerprints since ``some type of petroleum accelerant was used to start the fire.''
``We're trying not to leave any stone unturned in this case,'' he said.
Auburn's downtown is just off campus.
Dawson said speculation that Burk might have been sexually assaulted was untrue.
``The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences told us that she was not sexually assaulted,'' he said. ``I know that's been out there. I wanted to make that clear. I've already made it clear to the family that she was not sexually assaulted.''
The family, meanwhile, announced that it has established a fund to help lead to an arrest in the case. Contributions to the Lauren Burk Memorial Fund can be made at any Wachovia Bank ``to help apprehend the person responsible for her death,'' the family said in a statement.
``The family of Lauren Burk would like to express their gratitude for all the kindness and prayers expressed during this tragedy,'' the family's statement said. ``They respectfully ask for privacy during this time so they may grieve for their great loss, as well (as) celebrate Lauren's life.''
Dawson said there would be an increased police presence on campus until an arrest has been made, but Auburn University officials advised students in an e-mail Wednesday that there was no indication that others on campus might be in danger.
Lauren Burk (Photo from WSB-TV)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/207722