Questions linger over how Milwaukee authorities didn’t uncover the physique of a teenage boy inside a stolen SUV that crashed and was taken to a metropolis tow lot, leaving the physique to decompose inside it for days.
Members of the family recognized the physique as that of 17-year-old James Stokes.
Based on WTMJ, authorities towed a stolen white Kia SUV to the lot after they had been known as to the scene the place it crashed right into a tree close to North 91st Road and West Fond du Lac Avenue on Thursday, June 1.
They found that the car was stolen and took the motive force, a 16-year-old boy, to the hospital. Officers arrested him after he acquired remedy for his accidents. The automotive, which was severely broken after the crash, was towed to loads situated at 3811 W. Lincoln Ave.
Days later, on June 5, Milwaukee police obtained a name that morning for service on the tow lot. Once they arrived, they discovered a physique on the ground of the again seat of that stolen SUV.
Now, police alongside Milwaukee Public Works officers try to find out how the teenager’s physique wasn’t instantly discovered on the scene.
“So, my son is decomposed since you didn’t look within the automotive and see one other particular person was within the automotive? You simply had the automotive towed to the Milwaukee tow lot?” mentioned Stokes’ mom, Kina King.
Within the days after the crash, King and her household put up flyers and made posts on social media about Stokes’ disappearance.
King advised Fox 6 Information Milwaukee that she tried to file a lacking particular person’s report shortly after the crash however was advised that not sufficient time had handed for authorities to handle his case. She knew he was with a pal that night time, and the pal was injured in a crash close to 91st and Fond du Lac.
“He meant the world to me. He took care of me,” King mentioned of her son. “I had a stroke final 12 months.”
King mentioned police initially believed he fled the scene of the crash, however she later found that wasn’t the case. Police mentioned it seems there have been three individuals contained in the automotive on the time of the crash. No info has been launched on the third particular person.
“He was my primary protector. At all times the primary particular person I’d name,” Stokes’ sister Danielle Carey mentioned.
“I want solutions, and it’s not too many individuals out right here that may give me the suitable solutions,” Jamie Stokes, his different sister, added.
The Milwaukee Police Division does have a process for looking out towed vehicles.
Their protocol states, partially, “for the security of members, towed automobiles shall be completely searched. This search shall embody all the car accessible by key, together with the passenger compartment, glove field and trunk.”
That is the second time in two years a physique has been left inside a wrecked automotive that was taken to a tow lot in Milwaukee. In January 2022, a automotive was towed away from the scene of a fiery crash close to 76th and Inexperienced Tree. Mere hours later, a tow lot attendant discovered a girl’s physique behind the automotive.
