safety
‘I just smelled it’: Witness says he smelled odor for weeks before body found in Odessa donation box
Summary by The Odessa Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Luke Johnson , CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com)
· July 20, 2026
· 2 min read
ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Odessa police are working to identify a man found dead inside a clothes donation box last Friday at 8th Street and Coleman Avenue. Investigators say no signs of foul play were found. An autopsy has been ordered. Neighbor noticed odor weeks before discovery A neighbor who li...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Odessa Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Luke Johnson, CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 20, 2026 Indexed here Jul 21, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Neighbor noticed odor weeks before discovery A neighbor who lives on Coleman Avenue said he had smelled a strong odor for weeks before police arrived.
Why this matters in The Odessa
The discovery of a body in a clothes donation box on 8th Street and Coleman Avenue raises questions about the visibility and maintenance of these boxes in Odessa. For weeks, a strong odor emanated from the box, yet it wasn't until last Friday that the body was found. This incident may prompt city officials to reexamine the placement and upkeep of donation boxes, particularly in residential areas. The fact that a neighbor initially attributed the smell to a trashcan suggests that the box may not have been regularly emptied or inspected. As the investigation continues, residents may want to pay attention to how the city and donation box companies respond to concerns about the boxes' maintenance and potential impact on public health and safety. The removal of the donation box from the scene on Sunday may be just the first step in addressing these concerns.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) - Odessa police are working to identify a man found dead inside a clothes donation box last Friday at 8th Street and Coleman Avenue. Investigators say no signs of foul play were found. An autopsy has been ordered. Neighbor noticed odor weeks before discovery A neighbor who li...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 20, 2026 by CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Luke Johnson at CBS7 / KOSA-TV News (firstalert7.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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