Authorities in Missouri said that officers towed a car to the police headquarters before discovering the body of its missing owner earlier this month.
Adam “A.J.” Blackstock Jr.'s body was found in the trunk of his vehicle on January 17. The 24-year-old man's body was discovered after the car was towed to the police station.
Police officers faced criticism for moving the vehicle before searching it but they argued that they didn't have a warrant to conduct a search.
The death is being investigated as a homicide. The victim's father alerted police to his disappearance and provided a GPS location of the car to detectives.
After finding the vehicle in the driveway of a Kansas City home, officers spoke to a female resident who claimed the vehicle belonged to her uncle.
The victim's father, however, had a remote key that successfully started the engine, proving that the car belonged to Blackstock.
Officers reportedly noticed blood and a bullet hole in the driver's seat but did not search any further.
As of Monday evening, no arrests were made in connection with the murder.
