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 Luke Johnson , as published by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS)
· July 20, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Midland Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Luke Johnson, as published by 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
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Key takeaway A neighbor reported noticing a strong odor in the area for weeks prior to the discovery.
A body was found inside a clothes donation box in Odessa, at the intersection of 8th Street and Coleman Avenue. The discovery was made last Friday, and police are currently working to identify the deceased man. An autopsy has been ordered, and investigators have not found any signs of foul play.
A neighbor reported noticing a strong odor in the area for weeks prior to the discovery. Further details about the incident are available from local news sources, including statements from a witness who lives on Coleman Avenue and descriptions of the heavy police and medical examiner response to the scene.
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About this story
As published 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: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A body was found inside a clothes donation box in Odessa, at the intersection of 8th Street and Coleman Avenue. The discovery was made last Friday, and police are currently working to identify the…
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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