Wisconsin Teen Found Dead Inside Stolen Car

A Wisconsin teen's body was tragically found in the floorboard of a towed SUV four days after a crash, according to authorities.

Police responded to a car crash involving a vehicle that had crashed with a tree Thursday, June 1. It was later revealed that the car had been stolen, a 16-year-old driver was present at the scene during the incident, according to NBC 2.

Emergency services brought the driver to the hospital for treatment before taking him into custody.

Because of the damage sustained in the collision, the car was towed to a nearby tow yard. It was during the inspection of the vehicle, four days after the crash, that a body was discovered.

The Milwaukee Police Department has disclosed that the deceased individual found in the car's floorboard was likely a 17-year-old male. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating to determine the cause of death.

Authorities Investigate How Wisconsin Teen's Body Goes Unnoticed

Both the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) and the Department of Public Works are launching investigations to determine how the body of Wisconsin teen James Stokes went unnoticed for an extended period, NY Post noted.

Attorney William Sulton emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to prevent such incidents from occurring.

He highlighted the need for tow lot officers to follow specific rules and responsibilities, including conducting thorough searches before processing or releasing a vehicle.

Wisconsin Teen's Case Is Not the First

This recent incident involving James Stokes is not an isolated occurrence. Over the past five years, the Milwaukee police have towed vehicles with individuals still inside on three occasions, including the distressing discovery of the Wisconsin teen's body.

In a troubling incident in January 2018, a young girl was left alone in a van as her mother was arrested during a traffic stop, per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The vehicle was subsequently towed, unknowingly leaving the child behind as temperatures plummeted to dangerous lows.

During this process, at least ten city workers, including those from the police and public works departments, were involved. The girl, possibly sleeping and covered by clothing, remained trapped in the van for approximately seven hours while the outside temperature hovered around a chilling eighteen degrees.

It wasn't until the following morning when a tow lot worker heard her cries, that the child was discovered. Fortunately, police reports indicated that she exhibited no signs of injury or exposure despite the harrowing ordeal.

In December of the previous year, the city paid the family a settlement of $50,000 to resolve their lawsuit related to the incident. Additionally, two police officers received 45-day suspensions, one of whom had faced misconduct allegations. However, no civil or criminal action was taken against other city employees.

Fast forward to January 2022, when firefighters responded to a car crash that had caused a nearby building to catch fire. Shockingly, the lifeless body of a 21-year-old woman was found in the back seat of her car, which had been unnoticed for several hours.

After a thorough month-long investigation, Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski publicly apologized for the incident. He acknowledged that it was the responsibility of his staff to locate the deceased individual and announced changes to the department's standard operating procedures.

Chief Lipski detailed the implementation of a new procedure that involves conducting three separate searches by different teams, similar to the method used when searching buildings.

These measures aim to prevent future oversights and uphold the highest standards of care and attention during emergency response situations involving vehicles.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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