An Aurora police officer looking for suspects in a burglary instead discovered the body of a woman in the cargo area of an abandoned Lexus sport-utility vehicle early today.
The woman’s name and how she died have not been released.
Police think they know who the woman is and investigators with the major crimes unit are talking to her friends and family this afternoon, said Sgt. Cassidee Carlson.
The coroner’s office, however, had not conclusively confirmed her identity and the cause of death for investigators as of 4 p.m.
Police also aren’t releasing what caused her death.
“The investigation is still fairly early, and until we can get a search warrant and get into that vehicle, we’re not going to comment on that part of the investigation,” Carlson said.
The death is classified as suspicious at this point.
The patrol officer was investigating an unrelated burglary in the 4900 block of South Elkhart Way just before 4 a.m., when he became suspicious about a lump beneath a covering of some sort in the back of the SUV, she said.
The body is not thought to be related to the burglary, Carlson said.
Neighbors said the vehicle had been there since at least Saturday. Because of the heavily tinted windows and the covering over the body, it was not obvious something was suspicious until the officer shined his flashlight in, Carlson said.
The neighborhood where the SUV was found is between South Parker Road and South Chambers Road north of East Belleview Avenue.
Anyone with information can all Aurora Police Detective Gretchen Fronapfel at 303-739-6013 or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tips also can be sent by test to 274637 (CRIMES) with the title DMCS.
