Police have made a grim discovery in Texas after a donation box was reportedly emitting a strong odor. A local resident claimed that the box had been giving off a bad smell for weeks and, upon opening the box, authorities found the body of a deceased man inside.
The Odessa Police Department confirmed in a news release that it is currently investigating after responding to reports on July 17 of a deceased person on 8th Street and Coleman Avenue. Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered the unidentified male inside the donation box, reports People.
According to the Odessa Police Department, there were no signs at the scene to indicate foul play was involved in the man’s death. An autopsy on the body has been ordered, which will likely provide further clues as to how the man met his end. As of writing, the Police Department has yet to provide any more updates on the case.
Neighbors noted a strong odor
A resident on Coleman Avenue by the name of Juan Enriquez told KOSA, (an affiliate of CBS), that he had noticed a strong odor lingering weeks before the body was reported to police. “I never knew where it came from, I just smelled it. But I thought it was a trashcan, you know how it smells during the summertime,” Enriquez said.
Neighbor Says He Smelled Odor for Weeks Before Body Was Found in Donation Box https://t.co/nemF4NBVyB
— People (@people) July 21, 2026
Enriquez also claimed that, at first, he believed the victim to be a child due to the small opening on the donation box. He said it was difficult to see when authorities put the deceased in a body bag due to the heavy presence of police and medical examiners. Details about the victim have not been made public, and the age of the victim is yet to be confirmed.
This isn’t the first time somebody has died inside a donation box in Texas. In November of last year, a 45-year-old man dialled 911 from inside a similar box asking for help after getting stuck upside-down. He reportedly told the 911 operator, “I can’t breathe. I’m having problems breathing,” during the call. Unfortunately, the man died minutes after making the call, before a rescue effort could be made.
It’s believed the victim from last year had twisted himself into an awkward position and may have even cramped by the anti-theft mechanism. His position possibly made it difficult for him to breathe, and it’s also believed that he died from suffocation.
Of course, there has been no official cause of death for the body found in the Odessa donation box so far, but the investigation is ongoing.
