LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police have released more information after a body was found in a burning car early Thursday.
According to a news release from LMPD spokeswoman Alicia Smiley, the LMPD Homicide Unit is now investigating the death as a homicide after the body of a white female believed to be in her early 30s was found in the trunk of a burning car just before 1 a.m. Oct. 18.
Louisville Fire & Rescue notified LMPD after extinguishing the car fire behind a residence in the 1800 block of Greenwood Avenue.
Police now believe the woman died from an assault. Frightened neighbors watched as police and firefighters responded to a car fire behind a home in the California neighborhood overnight Thursday. "It was about 12 that I laid down you know to go to bed. And I heard something 'boom' like an explosion so I looked out my window and I saw some fire," said a neighbor who did not want to be identified.
Once the fire was out--a gruesome discovery was made. The body of a white female found in the trunk. Neighbors are shaken up--especially those with small children that play near the alley. "Literally right in the backyard. This is like right there, and they could come here and play at anytime and all of this is going on. You know what I'm saying? and I don't like that, I don't like the area, I don't like what's going on, it's madness," said Roneeka Mullins, whose parents live nearby.
Police say the woman died from an assault--not from the fire itself. Right now we do not know who she is. Police will only say she is a white female in her 30's. The odd case is exactly why Roneeka Mullins' parents keep their backyard locked up with a gate and padlock. "He actually made this gate to block out what goes on," Mullins said, of her stepfather.
In daylight, you can see the charred spot where the car burned. The property owner came outside to look at the damage. He says he is the one that called 911, but says police told him not to comment further. He added he is disturbed something this terrible happened in his backyard. Police are not saying much right now because of the ongoing investigation and sensitivity of the case.
"This is crazy. this really is crazy, it's scary, it really is scary," said Mullins.
Anyone with information is asked to call the anonymous LMPD crime tipline at 502-574-LMPD (574-5683).
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