Mummified body in car identified as homeless woman
A mummified body found inside a parked car in Costa Mesa has been identified as a homeless woman from Fountain Valley, but authorities said they would not release her name until her relatives have been notified.
The decomposing body had been inside the car for up to 10 months, authorities said.
Police said they have not decided whether to seek criminal charges against a former real estate broker who apparently let the homeless woman sleep in her 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis and then failed to contact authorities after the woman died.
The former broker told authorities that the last time she saw the homeless woman alive was December, police said.
The body was discovered Monday night when a police cadet responded to a complaint of a parked car blocking a driveway. After detecting a strong odor coming from the car, the cadet called a patrol officer, who broke into the car and found the body under a pile of jackets and clothes in the passenger seat.
Police said they also found a box of baking soda nearby, apparently to reduce the odor.
-- Joseph Serna in Orange County
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Who is the former broker??
See my post under "10 students burned at Torrance high school when cooking device explodes".
Posted by: CaliPHOBE | October 22, 2010 at 07:02 PM
One of the most entertaining thing about living in Los Angeles is hearing about all the kooks and the nutty things they do.
Posted by: Get Planted | October 22, 2010 at 07:51 PM
Who cares if she was "mummified?" The real question was did she vote?
Posted by: MBC Voice | October 22, 2010 at 08:33 PM
Ten months ago was January! The poor woman probably died of hypothermia. The woman whose car it was should be arrested for not letting this woman come in from the cold. CaliPHOBE SHUT UP!
Posted by: My opinon means nothing | October 22, 2010 at 09:43 PM
I attempted to leave a comment twice prior to now...I just can't seem to find the words.
I mean, what does one say? I'm shocked? Do I make a joke?
It's just so pathetic and sick and bizarre and yet so normal in today's world.
Posted by: All Hallows Eve | October 22, 2010 at 10:29 PM
It didn't take place in Los Angeles. It took place in south Orange County, a place where these types of stories rarely happen. So yeah, it is really bizarre.
Posted by: david | October 23, 2010 at 04:12 AM
What the heck? How could you walk by a car with kind of smell and not know. What kind of charge would be filed? Something needs to happen, kind of weird.
Posted by: Mike King | October 23, 2010 at 03:11 PM
Puts a whole new meaning to finding solutions for driving in the diamond lane on the freeway.
Posted by: venicementor | October 25, 2010 at 01:46 PM
Such a sad story. I don't think any charges should be pressed, but there's gotta be a reason for why he just left her in his/her car.
Posted by: Los Angeles Guy | January 22, 2011 at 05:09 AM