Death by clothing donation drop box is actually a thing – and just happened in Florida

A homeless woman was found dead after reportedly getting stuck in a clothing donation box in Florida.

Police found the woman “partially lodged” in the box in Plantation after she likely tried to retrieve clothing items that had been deposited in the donation site.

News footage showed the pink donation box roped off by crime scene tape and ” a tarp covering what appeared to be the victim’s body,” as reported by WSVN-TV.

(Video Credit: WSVN-TV)

The donation box is reportedly located just a few feet away from a daycare center in the city of Broward County, Florida.

“According to investigators, it appears the middle-aged homeless woman was attempting to get donations from the bin when she got stuck inside, ultimately dying from suffocation,” WSVN reported.

“As of Friday afternoon, officials said the woman’s next of kin has yet to be notified; therefore, they won’t be releasing her identity,” the outlet added.

An employee of the Children’s Learning Center reportedly saw the woman’s body sticking out of the pink bin on West Federated Roadway when she arrived at work last week. She called 911, but the victim was reportedly already dead by the time police arrived.

“At this time, it looks like this incident is an accident, but our detective bureau is conducting a full investigation,” Plantation Police said.

According to Daily Mail:

A handful of people die each year across the US and Canada after getting stuck in charity donation bins, more than 20 in 2007 to 2019 alone.

The bins are designed to open a hatch using a handle at the front and are self-closing for security and ease of use.

People usually get stuck in them either when trying to take out clothes or retrieving property that accidentally went in with items they were donating.

Homeless people have occasionally deliberately gone inside for shelter, only to find they couldn’t get out.

“I am really shocked,” a parent from the nearby daycare center told WSVN. “I was wondering if something happened, if a pipe burst or something. I didn’t expect to hear a body.”

“I’ve dropped clothes off in that bin, and the opening is super small,” one woman who works nearby told CBS Miami. “It’s kind of like at the post office when you put a package in, so I can’t imagine anyone being able to get in there.”

“It’s sad that someone was just trying to get some new clothes,” she said.

(Video Credit: WSVN-TV)

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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