Police Investigating Body Found in Trunk with Marijuana and Cash
By: Dawn White
Updated: December 4, 2012
FREDERICK, MD - A Frederick community is reeling after a man's body was found in his own trunk.
Louis King hadn't seen his neighbor in almost a week and began to wonder where he was. King and community received shocking news.
Police found John Ryan, 37, dead in the back of his own trunk in Montgomery County.
"They removed the vehicle, took it back to the Rockville Barrack, obtained a search warrant to search the vehicle, and upon searching the vehicle found the body of the victim in the trunk," says Greg Shipley, spokesman for Maryland State Police. "They also found in the trunk about a pound of marijuana and some cash."
Ryan's wife last saw him at their Frederick home along Laurel Wood Way on November 27th. She reported him missing on November 29th and police found his body on Monday. The car was parking along the 15000 block of Somerville Drive in Derwood.
"It's just so sad. This whole morning I haven't slept at all," King said. "I was just thinking how could this happen? How could somebody I know be murdered?"
Neighbors describe Ryan as a family man with two daughters and always willing to lend a helping hand. He painted King's shutters and door frame for free.
"Basically, he kept to himself, but he still talked. He loved his family," says King. "He actually came to my graduation party this past summer, and it's just tragic that his life was taken so short."
The body had injuries on it, but police aren't saying yet what exactly they are.
"They're interviewing friends, family, business associates, examining evidence, and looking at every possibility, but ultimately the goal is to determine what happened to Ryan and who was responsible for it," says Shipley.
King, and the entire neighborhood, are trying to come to grips with the loss and hope police find the person responsible.
Ryan's body will undergo an autopsy in Baltimore. The medical examiner will then determine the cause and manner of death.
Anyone with information on Ryan's death or disappearing is asked to call Maryland State Police at 301-644-4151. Ask for Cpl. Jonathan Martin or Sgt. Richard Bachtell. You can remain anonymous.
