Watch CBS News

Police Investigating Abandoned Car With Body Found Inside Trunk

ANAHEIM (CBSLA) — Police investigated an abandoned car with a body wrapped in tarp inside its trunk Thursday.

A person reported the abandoned vehicle near the 91 Freeway and Gypsum Canyon and a tow truck driver was sent to retrieve it.

The tow truck driver believed the car -- a 2007 Lexus -- was suspicious and alerted California Highway Patrol.

The CHP opened the doors of the car and saw suspicious objects, at which time they called the Anaheim Police Department.

Anaheim PD responded to the area and carefully began to investigate the car's belongings.

"When the detectives looked at it, they felt that it was suspicious and they would treat it as a crime scene just to be safe," said Anaheim Police Department Sgt. Daron Wyatt.

No odor specific to that of a decomposing body was present at the scene.

Late Thursday, however, authorities confirmed they discovered a body.

The entire vehicle was transported, with the body inside, to the Orange County Coroner's Office. The car might have been at the location for a long as two days, police said.

The car was abandoned just underneath the connector road of the 91 Freeway to the 241 toll road, Wyatt said.

The car is allegedly registered to a 70-year-old woman who lives in San Diego.

Police brought in a drone to help in their investigation.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.