A decomposing human body was found inside a black Cadillac Escalade Saturday afternoon. The vehicle had been parked in West Hollywood, Calif. near the intersection of Willoughby and Gennesee Avenues for days.
It was originally unknown if the remains were human or not, as the corpse was so bloated, reports West Hollywood Patch.
"We don’t know if it is human or an animal," Wendy Reyes of the Los Angeles Police Department initially said to CBS2.
It has since been confirmed that the victim was a human male.
The car had been parked on the street for days, collecting parking tickets and leaves. Neighbors only grew suspicious at the permeating stench. "I came into my kitchen and said, 'What's that smell?' " said Allen Bernstein to KTLA, "but evidently it was the smell from the dead body across the street."
The Los Angeles Police Department stated in a release that the condition of the body made identification and cause of death undeterminable at this time. "A body placed in a trunk under direct sunlight will accelerate decomposition 'like an oven'," said Coroner’s investigator Dana Bee to the Los Angeles Times.
The case is being investigated as a homicide. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
From the LAPD: Anyone with information on this case is urged to call West Bureau Homicide detectives at 213-382-9470. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.