In recent days, three women were discovered dead in Detroit. Two of them were found burned beyond recognition early on Christmas, and have been linked to a website called Packages that advertises adult escort services.
In two separate incidents during the last week, four women, who were all African-Americans in their twenties, were found dead in the trunks of abandoned vehicles on Detroit’s east side.
The latest incident happened around 1 a.m. on Sunday, when the Detroit Fire Department responded to reports of a car fire.
After putting out the flames, firefighters discovered two dead women in the trunk of the 1997 Buick LaSabre.
Three of the four women, the police said in a statement, were linked with “prearranged adult dating services” advertised on Packages, police said.
In a statement posted on the department’s Facebook page, Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. said “deciding to meet unknown persons via the Internet can be extremely dangerous.”
The city’s medical examiner has not determined how the four women died. But Godbee said that given “the way the females were found and the attempt to hide their bodies,” homicide detectives were treating the cases as suspicious deaths.
Ralph Godbee Jr.’s full public safety announcement reads as follows: “As public servants, it’s essential that we not only protect and serve the visitors and citizens of Detroit, but provide any information to the public to ensure their continued safety and possibly avert any opportunity for someone to become a victim of a violent act. We have a moral obligation to relay this information to our citizenry. With the vast increase in the utilization of social media and the internet, we must continue to be vigilant in identifying any website which may potentially pose a threat to individuals.
“Recently, there have been two separate incidences where two young ladies have been discovered deceased in vehicles on the east side of Detroit. The first incident, occurred on December 19, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. in the 14900 block of Promenade, two deceased females were discovered in the trunk of a 2009 Chrysler 300C, that was parked in the driveway of a vacant dwelling. There were no outer signs of trauma to the bodies. The victims have been identified and are black females, ages 23 and 24. ”
On December 25, 2011 around 1:00 a.m., the Detroit Fire Department responded to the 14900 block of Lanette, also on the east side, and after extinguishing a vehicle fire, the bodies of two young ladies were discovered in the trunk of 1997 Buick LaSabre.
“The victims have been identified tentatively and are black females, ages 28 and 29. At this time, we are awaiting the Medical Examiner’s final report for the determination of the cause of death for each of the females. Due to the way the females were found and the attempt to hide their bodies, our Homicide Detectives are investigating each case as suspicious deaths.
“Thus far our preliminary investigation has revealed a connection between three of the females and a website, entitled www.BackPage.Com, a site for advertisement and classified postings. The Backpage site offers services ranging from automotive to real estate. The link between the three females and this website specifically dealt with prearranged adult dating services. We are not passing judgment on any individual who is utilizing this website, yet we felt it was imperative to alert the public that deciding to meet unknown persons via the internet, can be extremely dangerous.
“We implore people to be careful and always let someone know exactly when and where that intend on meeting this person or persons, which should be in a public place. Our sole purpose is for the public to be cognizance of this website when engaged in adult activities.”