Philadelphia police are investigating a homicide case after a man’s body was found inside the trunk of a car in the Northern Liberties neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. The man’s body was wrapped in a tarp and the cause of death is unknown at this time. No arrests have been made and no weapons were recovered from the scene.
The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. on the 400 block of North 5th Street, where officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. They found the car parked on the street with its trunk open and a foul odor coming from it. Upon closer inspection, they discovered the body of a 31-year-old man inside the trunk, covered by a tarp.
The victim has not been identified yet and the motive for the killing is unclear. Police are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby cameras and asking anyone with information to come forward.
Homicide rate rises in Philadelphia
This is the latest in a series of homicides that have plagued Philadelphia this year. According to the Philadelphia Police Department, there have been 439 homicides as of October 8, 2023, which is a 16% increase from the same period last year. The city has also seen a surge in shootings, with 1,874 people shot so far this year, compared to 1,603 at this point last year.
The police commissioner, Danielle Outlaw, has attributed the rise in violence to several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest, economic hardship, and illegal gun trafficking. She has also called for more collaboration between law enforcement agencies, community groups, and elected officials to address the root causes of crime and prevent further bloodshed.
Other cases of bodies found in car trunks
This is not the first time that a body has been found in a car trunk in Philadelphia. In July 2022, a man was found shot and killed in his SUV that was set on fire in the Oxford Circle section of Northeast Philadelphia. The victim was identified as Gerard Vera Gonzalez, who had been shot once in the head and tied up before someone lit his vehicle on fire. Police said they were looking for two suspects in connection with the arson and homicide.
In April 2023, another man was found dead in a burning SUV in the same neighborhood. The man had also been shot and killed before his vehicle was torched. Police did not release his name or any details about the suspects or the motive.
These cases highlight the brutality and cruelty of some of the perpetrators who have no regard for human life or dignity. They also pose a challenge for the investigators who have to deal with the destruction of evidence and the difficulty of identifying the victims.
