Body found in car trunk outside Walmart in Homestead

Investigation linked to missing persons case in Keys

HOMESTEAD, Fla. ā€“ Miami-Dade police are investigating a body found in the trunk of a car outside a Walmart in Homestead on Thursday.

A large police presence was seen surrounding a white Honda in the parking lot.

"We walked over here and the trunk was open and we could smell it. The body was in the trunk,"Ā witness Amira SaletovicĀ said.

Detectives said they believe the body could be linked to a missing personĀ case out of Monroe County.

Detective Chris Thomas said a man reported his brother missing two days ago in the Keys, but spotted a car matching the description of his brotherā€™s car late Thursday morning.

"He starts following it, and he's pretty convinced that this vehicle is the vehicle that belongs to his brother,"Ā Thomas said.

The brother then called 911Ā and stayed on the phone with dispatchers, Thomas said.

"Once he arrives in the parking lot with the vehicle, the police officers were able to take three individuals that were inside of the vehicle into custody," Thomas said.Ā "Once the individuals were in custody, the officers noticed a foul odor coming from the trunk."

Two men and one woman were handcuffed and taken in for questioning Thursday evening.

The white Honda, with the body inside, was towed to the Miami-Dade County medical examiner's office.

The investigation continues.


About the Authors:

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.