"Free car !" --- what could go wrong ?

[left-of-center2012]

Mississippi Men Make Grisly Discovery After Thinking They Scored a ‘Free Car’

When two men in Mississippi came across a vehicle with the keys in the ignition and a sign reading “free car,” they jumped in and drove it to the home of one of their family members. But police say their free ride took a turn for the worse when they arrived at their destination and took a closer look at the vehicle, discovering that a naked corpse had been stuffed in the trunk.

According to a report from local NBC-affiliated news station WLBT-TV, police say the men found the car abandoned in the city of Byram and drove it—dead body and all—more than 20 miles to Copiah County before they realized they were transporting human remains.

Copiah County Sheriff Byron Swilley on Sunday said the body found in the car has been identified as 34-year-old Anthony Mccrillis. County Coroner Ellis Stuart said the body had been in the car for multiple days and was discovered without any clothing.

“He was identified through his tattoos and confirmed through his immediate family of his identity,” Byram Police Chief David Errington told the station. He said Mccrillis’ body did not present any obvious signs of trauma.

https://lawandcrime.com/crazy/mississippi-men-make-grisly-discovery-after-thinking-they-scored-a-free-car/

[Haggard Celine]

1. The man had been dead for days and they didn't smell anything?

They didn't notice flies buzzing around the trunk area? If you get a free car, it's a good idea to check it out before you drive it. Besides, in Mississippi they'll give you all sorts of grief if you don't have a title for the car. Maybe they could get a salvage title, I guess, but it's a major pain in the ass.

I'm guessing that the dead man was a drug overdose and the 'friends' he had with him couldn't call the authorities when he died. It said there wasn't any obvious trauma to the body. The guys who found the car must have the minds of children. Jesus!

[EYESORE 9001]

2. Reminds me of an apocryphal tale making the rounds over 50 years ago

A super-hot car, sometimes told as a Shelby Mustang, was for sale a couple of cities away (always too far for quick verification) for an incredibly low price. The catch: previous owner had died in the vehicle, going unnoticed for several days. All efforts to eradicate odors failed, hence the giveaway price. It always sparked speculation over cleaning methodology and whether driving such a car was bad juju.