The Denton County Sheriff’s Office released these video stills showing a suspect sought in the killing of a taxi driver found in Justin on Thursday. The video footage was taken from security cameras at a store.

Denton County sheriff’s investigators are searching for two men wanted in connection with the robbery and murder of a taxi driver, whose body was found partially burned in a field in Justin on Thursday night.

According to the taxicab company’s records, the driver picked up two men near a Dallas bus station Thursday and was taking them to Wichita Falls, said Tom Reedy, Denton County sheriff’s spokesman.

One of the suspects was seen buying beer at a convenience store near the crime scene, and sheriff’s investigators are releasing a photo from the video in hopes of finding the man, Reedy said.

Investigators describe both suspects as white men in their early 20s. The suspect seen in the video was wearing dark green or green camouflage pants, a black T-shirt and a black baseball cap with a “B” on it. He was seen getting out of the taxi that was later abandoned near the cabdriver’s body, Reedy said.

The driver of the cab had been reported missing since 7:45 p.m. Thursday, and the burned body found in Justin matches the description of the driver, Reedy said.

Firefighters responded to a grassfire at a petroleum well lease site at the intersection of State Highway 114 and John Day Road at about 9 p.m. Thursday.

When Justin firefighters were extinguishing the fire, they discovered the body of a man in the field who had been stabbed in the chest several times and had his throat slit.

There was no identification or shirt on the body, but the man appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent, matching the description of the missing cab driver, Reedy said.

The driver’s daughter tried to call her father on his cellphone, but no one answered.

A blue van bearing the name of Freedom taxi service was found about a mile from the body, and investigators discovered a large amount of blood in the front and rear seats, Reedy said.

The body had not been positively identified by Friday evening, and the missing cab driver’s name was not released.

The medical examiner’s office had reported the remains as those of a 52-year-old Allen man Friday morning, but that identification was since removed.

Investigators say it appears the cab driver was killed in the cab or at another location and his body was dumped at the site of the grassfire, Reedy said.

The cab was abandoned in tall brush, and no money was found in the vehicle or on the victim.

Tracking dogs brought out by investigators tracked a scent back to John Day Road and then south toward Song Bird Estates before they lost the scent, Reedy said.

Denton County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of these suspects. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477).

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com.