Fugitive killer Christopher Dorner found dead in burned out cabin (VIDEO)

Feb 13 2013 By Cheryl Mullin

CHARRED human remains have been found in a burned-out cabin where a fugitive former police officer was believed to be, US police have confirmed.

The remains were found in the cabin in Big Bear Lake, California, after a shoot-out killed one sheriff's deputy and injured another, a spokeswoman said.

Authorities believe fugitive Christopher Dorner barricaded himself inside the cabin and a fire later started. Investigators will attempt to determine if the remains are Dorner's through forensic tests.

Thousands of officers had been hunting the former Navy reservist since police said he launched a campaign to exact revenge against the Los Angeles Police Department for being fired.

Police had been searching the snow-covered woods near Big Bear Lake, a resort town about 80 miles east of Los Angeles, after Dorner's car was found late last week.

The LAPD say Dorner threatened to bring "warfare" to officers and their families, spreading fear and setting off a search for him across the south west of the US and into Mexico.

On Tuesday afternoon, deputies got a report of a stolen pick-up truck directly across the street from where police set up their command post on Thursday, not far from where Dorner's own pick-up was abandoned. The owner of the vehicle that was stolen had described the suspect as looking similar to Dorner.