Girlfriend Dies During 1,900 Mile Road Trip

deanmine · #1 ● 06-07-2014, 12:48 AM

Ray Tomlinson set out from Michigan to Arizona to pick up his girlfriend from a mental health facility Sunday—then drove nearly all of the 1,900-mile return trek with her dead body propped up in the passenger seat. Somewhere in New Mexico, Tomlinson nudged her and "she was stiff," he tells WDIV. "There wasn't jerking or moans or groans, or cries for help, she just fell asleep."

Rather than call police, Tomlinson propped the body up, slapped sunglasses on the woman's face, and put a stuffed animal in her lap, WJBK reports. He and his 93-year-old mom then continued to drive for 26 hours—without air conditioning.

When health officials called the woman's cell to check on her, Tomlinson told them she was dead, but refused to contact police. His plan? After looking up what to do with a dead body on his phone, he learned he'd have 48 hours to get the woman to a morgue, and planned to take her to one in Michigan. Michigan authorities, however, met Tomlinson after the facility gave them a ring. Police are awaiting a toxicology report but say the woman may have taken several oxycodone pills while stopped at a Flagstaff gas station. No charges have been filed, but the local prosecutor's office is reviewing the case.