Police: Remains In Burned Car May Be Result Of Bad Drug Deal
HIALEAH (CBSMiami) – It's a mystery: Human remains found in a burned out car early Monday morning in Hialeah.
Police are working under the theory that this was a drug deal gone wrong. The Hialeah police chief told our news partners at El Nuevo Herald that the car was likely set on fire to destroy evidence of a crime.
The Medical Examiner is still working to identify the remains. Images of the charred car are still burned in the minds of employees who work where the deadly discovery was made.
"Everybody is talking about it, how many bodies? What's going on? They burned it completely? They've been asking questions," said Rey Santos who works nearby.
Police say the car went was set on fire in the parking lot of a warehouse district on 84th Street and 21st Lane in Hialeah.
Santos told CBS4's Gaby Fleischman, "This neighborhood is real quiet, looks like they bring it from somewhere else to burn the car here with the body inside."
The car, identified as a Mercedes Benz, was so badly damaged police weren't immediately able to figure out what kind of car it was or how many bodies burned inside.
"The fact that the vehicle was set on fire makes everything a little more difficult," said Eddie Rodriguez, Public Information Officer for the Hialeah police department.
Workers say the deadly discovery makes them think back to the days when arson as a crime cover-up was seen often in South Florida. "Back in the 80s that's what they used to do," said Santos. "But the 80s is over. I don't know what happened now. Looks like it's gonna come back again. I hope not."
It's unclear if the remains were found in the front or trunk of the car. "Forensics will go through the vehicle and determine exactly how many human remains they found inside that car," said police spokesman Rodriguez.
Detectives have pulled surveillance video from warehouses in hopes it gives them a lead as to what happened.
Rodriguez said police hope witnesses will come forward. Anyone with information is urged to call Hialeah Police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477).
