Oklahoma family shocked after discovering vehicle buried, wrapped in plastic in backyard
Cassandra Sweetman,
Updated at 10:21PM, July 25, 2017
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY, Okla. - An SUV found buried in a family's backyard is now two tons of evidence in a crime nearly 15-years-old.
The 2003 Chevy Trailblazer was discovered in the middle of a trail on a property in the 19000 block of Bethel Road.
"We jumped off this car for several years with our ATV and motocross bikes, without ever knowing it," said property owner, Fredie Green.
His son, Cody, was trying to adjust the jump when his tractor unearthed something familiar.
"Went down a little deep and the tractor just stopped," Cody said. "I went, 'man, what is this?' Well I end up digging some more and got to the hood of it, and 'this is a car!'"
He called his father to let him know.
"Alerted me, 'dad, we got a car buried six-foot underground,' and I told my son, 'stop right there and leave it alone,'" Fredie said.
He called authorities, fearing the worst.
"Just make sure that there were no dead bodies in the car," he said.
Deputies dug it up, dragged it out, and tore the doors off, dispelling suspicion of any possible bodies inside.
However, they were able to use the license plate left on the vehicle to discover it was reported stolen by the previous owner.
"He had reported it stolen in 2003," said Lt. Robert Stewart. "He at one time owned that property that vehicle was located on."
No one has been charged yet, but deputies suspect it could be insurance fraud.
"It's amazing that someone could even go that far to bury a brand new car," Fredie said. "It's amazing."
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SHAWNEE, Okla. – A buried 2003 Chevy Trailblazer vehicle wrapped in plastic is under investigation by authorities in Shawnee.
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff said the 2003 Chevy Trailblazer was discovered slightly uncovered on the 19000 block of Bethel Road.
The vehicle was reported stolen in 2003. The sheriff said it may have belonged to a previous owner of the property it was buried on.
He said there may be possible charges related to insurance fraud.
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July 27 (UPI) -- A plastic-wrapped SUV found buried in an Oklahoma family's back yard could be evidence of insurance fraud by the previous property owners, police said.
Fredie Green said the 2003 Chevy Trailblazer was found buried in the middle of a trail he and his family used for riding ATVs and motocross bikes behind their home on Bethel Rd.
"We jumped off this car for several years with our ATV and motocross bikes, without ever knowing it," Green told KFOR-TV.
Green's son, Cody, said he discovered the subterranean vehicle while digging to adjust the jump on the trail.
"Went down a little deep and the tractor just stopped," Cody Green said. "I went, 'man, what is this?' Well I end up digging some more and got to the hood of it, and 'this is a car!'"
Fredie Green said he feared some of the darker possibilities of the vehicle when Cody called to tell him about the discovery.
"Alerted me, 'dad, we got a car buried six-foot underground,' and I told my son, 'stop right there and leave it alone,'" he said.
Green said he called the authorities and said, "just make sure that there were no dead bodies in the car."
Pottawatomie County sheriff's deputies responded to the scene and finished digging up the SUV, which was wrapped in plastic. They dragged the vehicle out of the hole and tore off the doors, discovering to Green's relief that there were no bodies inside.
Sheriff's Lt. Robert Stewart said the SUV might still be evidence of a crime. He said the license plates indicated the SUV belonged to the property's previous owner, who moved out about 10 years ago.
Stewart said the Trailblazer had been reported stolen.
"He had reported it stolen in 2003," when the truck was brand new, Stewart said. "He at one time owned that property that vehicle was located on."
Stewart and Sheriff Mike Booth said detectives are looking into whether the previous owner buried the SUV as part of an insurance fraud scheme.
"It's amazing that someone could even go that far to bury a brand new car," Fredie Green said. "It's amazing."