Marc Thompson, 25, has been identified as the body found in a burning car off the Oroville-Quincy highway Sept. 3, according to a Butte County Sheriff press release.

The Butte County Sheriff’s department is investigating the fire as a homicide. The burning vehicle was found around 7 p.m. off a rural highway 42 miles east of Chico.

Butte county coroners are still awaiting the DNA analysis for confirmation.

An online fundraiser was created Monday in order to raise money for costs related to Thompson’s funeral.

“The family…is still very emotional and in the grieving process about what has happened,” according to the fundraiser’s page.

Friends of Thompson expressed sorrow on his Facebook page.

” R.I.P. Marc,” wrote G.g. Gutierres. “May every sociologist carry on your work.”

Thompson, a sociology and psychology major, was the Commissioner of Multicultural Affairs for the Associated Students during the 2012-2013 academic year.

David McVicker, Mozes Zarate and Christine Lee contributed to this report.

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