UPDATE: NSP Identifies Female Found Dead In Trunk Of Vehicle Driven By Her Son
(KFOR Lincoln October 17, 2022) The Nebraska State Patrol has been able to positively identify the deceased woman found inside the trunk of a car involved in a pursuit Friday afternoon.
49 year old, Michelle Roenz, was the subject of a law enforcement alert issued in Harris County, Texas on Thursday. Roenz’s body was located in the trunk of a vehicle driven by her son, 17 year old, Tyler Roenz, who fled from an attempted traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Grand Island.
The teen was caught and taken St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, but was later transferred to an Omaha hospital for ongoing treatment of injuries suffered when he crashed his vehicle, ending the pursuit.
The Nebraska State Patrol is coordinating with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office of Texas for extradition of the minor once he is released from the hospital. All inquiries regarding the homicide investigation should be made to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
ORIGINAL STATEMENT:
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have apprehended the subject of a law enforcement alert from Texas and discovered a deceased individual in the trunk of a car. The discovery came after troopers located and pursued a vehicle suspected to be involved in a homicide in Texas.
At approximately 2:45 p.m. Friday, NSP was alerted by authorities with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Texas that a vehicle believed to be involved in a homicide was traveling in Nebraska. Troopers were able to locate the vehicle, a Mazda 3, less than 15 minutes later as it was traveling westbound on Interstate 80 near Grand Island.
A trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver of the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. The trooper initiated a pursuit. The suspect vehicle continued westbound with speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour.
After approximately nine miles, the Mazda attempted to slow down, but struck the rear of a semi, left the roadway, and struck a tree in the ditch near mile marker 299. Troopers were on scene immediately and located the driver with severe injuries. Troopers then located a deceased woman in the trunk of the car. NSP is currently working to positively identify the victim.
The driver is a 17-year-old male from Texas. The driver has been transported to St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
Inquiries regarding the homicide investigation should be made to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Texas.
