Current:Home > ScamsMiami police begin pulling cars submerged from a Doral lake. Here's what they found so far. -WealthRise Academy
Miami police begin pulling cars submerged from a Doral lake. Here's what they found so far.
View
Date:2025-04-15 02:25:41
The Miami-Dade Police Department is recovering multiple cars found submerged in a lake in Doral, Florida.
Divers working for a private company to investigate a missing person cold case said they found 32 cars while exploring a lake nestled in an industrial park west of Miami. They notified the police, which began pulling the vehicles from the lake Tuesday morning.
Here is what they found on the first day of vehicle recovery.
First car found in the lake confirmed stolen
- Miami-Dade police representative Alvaro Zabaleta told WFLA that the first car pulled from the lake was confirmed to be stolen. MDPD spokesperson Luis Sierra later confirmed with USA TOSDAY that the car is a Acura Legend, which was last made in 1995 according Cars.com.
- Police divers estimated 20 cars on Tuesday morning, according to Zabaleta. The final number is not yet confirmed due to low visibility.
- Police also pulled a Ford Econoline 3500 and a Cadillac Sedan DeVille, and anticipated extracting two more by the end of Tuesday.
- Zabaleta said that they expect all cars to be of an older make and model as they were likely dumped before the surrounding commercial area, including a Walmart Supercenter, a car dealership and several popular chain restaurants, was built.
Cars in Doral, Florida lake32 vehicles found in lake by divers working missing person cold cases
Police won't rule out possibility of new evidence in cold cases
Zabaleta said the the MDPD team investigating homicide cold cases hasn't been led to this lake before, but they would not rule it out as a possibility.
Based on the first vehicle that was pulled, he expected that they were stolen and discarded after a joy ride. But they will continue to examine the recovered cars for evidence linked to outstanding cases.
"We're not gonna discard the possibility of some type fraud that also can occur and some other type of foul play like a homicide," Zabaleta said, noting that the detectives investigating deaths were on the scene.
Volunteer divers found cars while working missing person cold case
Divers Ken Fleming and Doug Bishop with United Search Corps work on a volunteer basis to investigate missing persons cold cases, they told 7News Miami. The organization works on cases that could have started up to 40 years ago.
They were investigating a case where someone drove from Pinellas County to the Miami International Airport to pick up a relative and never returned.
They targeted this lake because it is nearby the airport with easy access, which could lend itself to foul play.
When they found 32 cars, the divers suspected it was a dumping ground for ongoing criminal activity.
“When we discover a spot like this with multiple vehicles, it pretty much indicates that a crime where they’re disposing the vehicles and hiding them from law enforcement,” Fleming told 7News.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- As college football season arrives, schools pay monitors to stop players and staff from gambling
- The Russian space agency says its Luna-25 spacecraft has crashed into the moon.
- Charlotte police fatally shoot man who stabbed officer in the neck, authorities say
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Fish found on transformer after New Jersey power outage -- officials suspect bird dropped it
- Look Hot and Stay Cool With Summer Essentials Picked by Real Housewives of Atlanta's Kandi Burruss
- ‘Born again in dogs’: How Clear the Shelters became a year-round mission for animal lovers
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Why Teen Mom's Leah Messer Said She Needed to Breakup With Ex-Fiancé Jaylan Mobley
Ranking
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- Gambling spectators yell at Max Homa, Chris Kirk during play at BMW Championship
- US, Japan and Australia plan joint navy drills in disputed South China Sea, Philippine officials say
- Britney Spears says in an Instagram video that she is 'shocked' about Sam Asghari filing for divorce
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Have Mercy and Take a Look at These Cute Pics of John Stamos and His Son Billy
- Princess Charlotte and Prince William Cheer on Women's Soccer Team Before World Cup Final
- Where is the next FIFA World Cup? What to know about men's, women's tournaments in 2026 and beyond
Recommendation
Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
Microsoft pulls computer-generated article that recommended tourists visit the Ottawa Food Bank
Former Minnesota governor, congressman Al Quie dies at 99
1 dead, 185 structures destroyed in eastern Washington wildfire
Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso shot near campus, recovering in hospital
The University of New Orleans picks 5 semifinalists in their search for a president
Planning a long-haul flight? Here's how to outsmart jet lag