Woman found dead in suitcase taken to Kansas fire station, police launch homicide investigation

A 67-year-old woman whose body was found in a trunk at a Kansas fire station has been identified as Lorretta M Moody as police continue to investigate her death as a homicide.

The body of a 67-year-old woman was found inside the trunk

The discovery was made on the evening of September 16 at Wichita Fire Station 22, where two people arrived with a suitcase and told fire personnel that it contained a body.

Wichita police said firefighters requested an emergency police response around 6:25 p.m. Officers arrived at the station, located at 2659 S. Hydraulic, and found Moody inside the trunk. She was pronounced dead at the scene before her body was taken to the Sedgwick County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Police initially believed they knew the woman’s identity, but were waiting for fingerprint confirmation before releasing her name. On September 18, authorities confirmed that Moody was the victim. She had previously been reported missing, so they added another piece to the timeline that investigators are now trying to reconstruct.

How was the trunk found?

The circumstances surrounding the suitcase remain unclear.

The two people who brought it to Fire Station 22 were interviewed by investigators. Police have not released their identities or said what, if any, relationship they had with Moody.

Detectives are working to determine how Moody and the two people were connected, as well as how and where she died. Investigators have been interviewing other people, reviewing evidence and working to establish a complete timeline of events.

Police have not publicly released Moody’s cause of death or said if anyone has been arrested in connection with the case. ABC News reported that no arrests had been reported as of September 18.

The unusual discovery left several key questions unanswered. Authorities have not said when Moody died, where she was before the suitcase was brought to the fire station, or why the two people decided to take the suitcase there.

Police say there is no danger to the public

Despite the homicide investigation, Wichita police said they have no information to indicate an ongoing threat to the public.

Detectives and investigators worked at the scene all night after the discovery and into the next morning. Police also canvassed the area and said they are looking for additional witnesses and other locations that may be connected to the case.

The police department urged anyone with information about Moody’s death or the events surrounding the trunk to contact its homicide investigators at 316-268-4407. The case is listed under number 26C179314.

Investigators are now focused on piecing together what happened to Moody before her body arrived at the Wichita Fire Station. The identification answered one important question, but much of the timeline remains under investigation.

Wichita police said more information will be released when it can be released without jeopardizing the investigation.