safety
‘I just smelled it’: Witness says he smelled odor for weeks before body found in Odessa donation box
Summary by The Midland Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Luke Johnson , KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS)
· 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 Midland Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Luke Johnson, KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) 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
Every story comes with a passport. How we work · Corrections log
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 Midland
The discovery of a body in a clothes donation box in Odessa raises concerns about the visibility and maintenance of these boxes in public areas. In a community like Midland-Odessa, where donation boxes are common, it's crucial to ensure they are regularly checked and serviced to prevent such incidents. The fact that a neighbor reported smelling a strong odor for weeks before the body was found suggests a lack of oversight, which could have contributed to the delay in discovery. As the investigation continues, local residents may want to pay attention to how the city and donation box companies respond to this incident, particularly in terms of increased monitoring and maintenance of these boxes. The removal of the donation box from the scene is a start, but it's likely that residents will be looking for more concrete actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.
About this story
Original reporting by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) . The Midland 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 KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 20, 2026 ·
Source: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) ·
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 KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) and curated for The Midland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Luke Johnson at KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). To learn more about how The Midland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Midland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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