The decomposing body of an undocumented immigrant was discovered inside of a tractor trailer impounded in Texas last week.
It happened on October 6th at the Falfurrias checkpoint in Falfurrias, Texas.
According to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, the tractor trailer was impounded by Customs and Border Protection agents on October 3rd after an undocumented person was discovered inside a closet in the cab of the truck.
The tractor trailer was then impounded without further investigation.
Three days later, on October 6th, Customs and Border protection agents noticed a strange fluid and foul odor leaking from a rear compartment of the seized tractor trailer. The agents contacted the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office and officer Benny Martinez responded to the scene.
Border Patrol agents found a body inside an 18-wheeler 3 days after it was seized at the Falfurrias checkpoint https://t.co/85EIguHaKd pic.twitter.com/PxBb6RQ43K
— KRGV CHANNEL 5 NEWS (@krgv) October 7, 2017
Upon inspection of the truck, the men discovered 27-year-old Martin Gomez’s body decomposing in the fetal position beneath a bed inside the cab of the truck.
The man was wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt and was found with a wallet containing identification.
“They even saw some buzzards flying over the truck, so that’s a big red flag,” said Sherrif Martinez.
“It’s just one of those issues that – I think that’s maybe the first time they dealt with [something like that] – so it’s hard, it was quite an impact on all of us,” he said, reported KGRV.
The exact cause of Gomez’s death is still under investigation, but the driver of the semi truck may face charges of manslaughter or negligent homicide. The identity of the truck driver has not been released.
The investigation is being conducted by ICE Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
