Hamilton Co.: Body in car trunk unnoticed by deputies

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that a missing man's body was found in his own car, which Hamilton County deputies impounded weeks ago during the missing persons investigation.

From the story:

Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis has admitted his deputies - weeks ago - should have opened the trunk of an impounded car in which a man's body was found Monday.

He said Tuesday that his office will investigate the actions of three employees involved in the case of missing man David Mollberg and of the discovery of his car last month in Anderson Township. Investigators thought Mollberg had committed suicide in the Ohio River when the car was found at a river access area in Anderson Township on March 11, but learned Monday that Mollberg's body was in the trunk.

The car has been in the sheriff's impound lot since March 11.

"I can tell you that trunk should've been forced open" by either the deputies on the scene when it was found, or by the detective assigned to the case, Leis said. "I have to admit we made a mistake by not popping that trunk."

Mollberg, 49, of Colerain Township, was found in the trunk of the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice on Monday afternoon when a sheriff's captain happened to be on the impound lot and noticed an odor. The captain told someone to open the trunk, and deputies found the body. Leis said Mollberg had put a shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.

Sheriff Leis recently objected to a plan by Commissioners Phil Heimlich and Pat DeWine to send "secret shoppers" in to his office to test how helpful county employees are when dealing with the general public.

"I am totally opposed to the program," [Leis told the Cincinnati Post]. "I believe it is a waste of time and manpower."

Leis told the Post he doesn't need a secret shopper to tell him that his office already has an excellent reputation for customer service.

Leis, who recently signed on as a county chairperson in anti-self-defense candidate Betty Montgomery's campaign for governor, told the Enquirer his office will investigate the actions of the officer and supervisor at the scene as well as the detective assigned to the case, to see if any disciplinary action is warranted.