Man drives 17 hours for online date with dead wife in his trunk

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

A Texas man was arrested after police discovered a body in his car’s trunk.

Dequalan Dejuan Harris was in the process of divorcing his wife, Tamara R. Harris, according to Cedar Hill police, when Tamara was reported missing. The suspect told police that he had last seen her when he picked up a child from her home on Thursday.

Then, on Friday, Demika Rucker, the suspect’s girlfriend, confirmed that Dequalan arrived at her home.

Mansfield police Det. Lt. Rob Skropits said on Monday that Dequalan had come to Mansfield “for love” or “an Internet connection” when his car was towed. Police had tracked the vehicle using its On-Star locator as part of a wellness check on Tamara and checked the trunk before towing the car, at which point they discovered the woman’s body.

After initially attempting to flee from police, Dequalan has been arrested on $1 million cash bond and faces a charge of abuse of a corpse, a fifth-degree felony. Richland County Children Services is helping police to care for the child that Dequalan picked up from Tamara’s house.

Police are currently investigating the couple’s history to see if there is any indication of prior domestic violence.

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