Unusual traffic stop reveals driver had a body in his trunk, Louisiana cops say

A late night traffic stop in southern Louisiana turned into a homicide investigation when deputies discovered the driver was hauling a body in the trunk, according to investigators.

The unusual find was made just before 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, after someone reported hearing shots fired on Railroad Avenue in the unincorporated Reserve community, the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office reported in a Sept. 29 news release.

“An orange, four-door Dodge sedan was seen leaving the area shortly after the sound of gunfire. ... Less than 10 minutes later, a patrol officer spotted a vehicle matching the description,” the sheriff’s office said.

“The driver of the car ... exited the vehicle and told officers that a body was in the trunk.”

A search revealed 21-year-old Tylen Anderson was dead in the trunk, officials said.

The driver, 20-year-old Tyler Bourgeois, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, the sheriff’s office said. Bond was set at $250,000.

“According to the statement provided by Bourgeois, he and the victim were riding together and parked the vehicle in the 300 block of Railroad Avenue. Bourgeois stated that while they were parked the two of them got into a heated verbal argument,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Bourgeois said that he and Anderson got out of the vehicle. At some point Bourgeoisproduced a weapon and Bourgeois said he shot Anderson.”

Details of what prompted the dispute were not released, and investigators did not report what Bourgeois intended to do with the body. Both men were from nearby LaPlace.

Reserve is about a 35-mile drive west of New Orleans, along the Mississippi River.