BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) — Battle Creek police say the woman who discovered a man’s body in the trunk of her impounded vehicle was the victim’s girlfriend.
Detective Sgt. Todd Elliott said the owner of the Toyota Camry was dating 43-year-old Diabulo White, who was last seen alive Friday night. She discovered his body in the vehicle’s trunk around 9:40 a.m. Monday when she was picking up the car at Tiger’s Towing, located at 111 S. Kendall Street.
Police say White’s mother reported him missing Saturday. Around 10 a.m. that day, a homeowner noticed the Toyota Camry parked on their property in the first block of Helen Montgomery Avenue and called the towing company, which in turn called police. However, officers didn’t search the vehicle because it was locked and hadn’t been reported stolen.
Elliott said on Monday that White had been shot in the head at another location, then loaded into the trunk of the car. An autopsy is scheduled to determine how exactly he died.
A tip to Silent Observer led police to a 48-year-old Battle Creek man, who is a suspect in the homicide. Officers found a handgun near where he was arrested and evidence at his home in the 100 block of Somerset Avenue, according to Elliott.
It’s unclear what sparked the shooting. Investigators are withholding the suspect’s name until he’s formally charged in the case on Wednesday, Elliott said.
White had a long criminal history that includes drug convictions.