‘I just smelled it’: Witness says he smelled odor for weeks before body found in donation box

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA/Gray News) - Odessa police are working to identify a man found dead inside a clothes donation box last Friday at 8th Street and Coleman Avenue.

Investigators say no signs of foul play were found. An autopsy has been ordered.

Neighbor noticed odor weeks before discovery

A neighbor who lives on Coleman Avenue said he had smelled a strong odor for weeks before police arrived.

He initially assumed the victim was a child or infant because he could not imagine an adult fitting inside the box’s small opening.

“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,” said Juan Enriquez, a witness.

Scene drew heavy police, medical examiner response

Enriquez said the area was overrun by police and medical examiners.

“They got out a sheet and a bag, and we never saw when they put the body inside the bag because they blocked our view with pickups,” Enriquez said.

Enriquez said the proximity of the discovery has been difficult to process.

“I mean really, I’ve been here for 40 years, and this is the first time we had something this close,” he said.

Witnesses say the donation box was removed from the scene Sunday.

The company that owns the box had not responded to a request for comment as of this report.

Odessa police said there are no updates at this time.