A burning body found along Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County last month has been identified as a popular Los Angeles area restaurant worker.

The body of 48 year old Bernardo Alvarez was identified through DNA testing and through autopsy findings that discovered a deformed left hand on the corpse.

Alvarez was last seen leaving his job at the Greystoke Restaurant on Ventura Blvd. on the night of July 14th where he worked as a waiter.

The restaurant is popular with LAPD officers, many who knew Alvarez well.

Alvarez was reported missing by his employer who called him a stellar worker who never missed a day of work in ten years.

A CHP officer discovered his burning body on the northbound Highway 101 near the Highway 1 turnout in the early morning hours of July 15th.

The coroner was not able to determine a cause of death because the body was so badly burned. In fact, despite overwhelming evidence of a murder, investigators have yet to call the Alvarez death investigation a homicide.

Investigators believe Alvarez was killed in Los Angeles County and his body was dumped and burned in Santa Barbara.

Both LAPD and Santa Barbara County investigators are asking the public for information -- if anyone knew Alvarez or saw anything out of the ordinary on the night of July 14th -- to please call the LAPD at 818-374-7725.