A disabled Nissan Pathfinder left overnight in an Arkansas business parking lot was gone by the time its owner returned the following morning. The SUV wasn’t repossessed or legally towed. Instead, police say another man claimed it belonged to him, arranged to have it hauled away, and ultimately pocketed part of the money after it was sold to a recycling yard for $433.20.
By the time detectives figured out where the Pathfinder had gone, there was nothing left to recover. Employees at the recycling business reportedly told investigators the SUV had already been crushed, leaving officers to piece together what happened using surveillance footage, license plate reader data, and records documenting the sale.
KAIT, citing a probable cause affidavit, reported investigators tracked the Pathfinder from the parking lot to Kings Recycling using Flock license plate reader cameras, LeadsOnline records, witness interviews, and surveillance video.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of 29-year-old Ladarius Dejuan Lee. He now faces a felony theft charge, and jail records show he was also booked on a parole violation following his arrest.
Investigators Used Multiple Sources to Track the Missing SUV
KAIT reported the Pathfinder’s owner left the SUV outside a business on North Culberhouse Street in Jonesboro on July 12 after it developed mechanical problems. When she returned the following day, it had disappeared, prompting her to report it stolen.
Detectives reviewed Flock license plate reader data that allegedly showed the Pathfinder being towed on July 13 by a white Chevrolet Silverado. Police later identified the truck’s registered owner as Lindsey Baker and interviewed her.
Investigators also searched LeadsOnline, where records allegedly showed Ronnie Hicks sold the Pathfinder to Kings Recycling on July 13 for $433.20. When detectives arrived at the recycling business on July 16, employees reportedly told them the SUV had already been crushed.
Police Say Three People Participated in Removing the Pathfinder
The affidavit obtained by KAIT states Baker told detectives during a Mirandized interview that Lee asked her to tow what he described as “his vehicle” because he could not tow it himself. She allegedly drove the Silverado with Hicks to retrieve the Pathfinder before taking it to Kings Recycling.
Police say Hicks completed the sale, collected the $433.20 payment, kept about $200, and gave the remainder to Lee. Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage from both the parking lot and the recycling business.
“The footage showed Lindsey Baker, Ronnie Hicks, and Ladarius Lee all present and actively participating in the removal of the Nissan Pathfinder along with assisting in towing it from the location to Kings Recycling where it was crushed,” the affidavit states.
Lee Also Booked on a Parole Violation
Craighead County District Judge Thomas Fowler found probable cause to charge Lee with theft of a vehicle valued at more than $1,000 but less than $5,000, a Class D felony.
The Craighead County Sheriff’s Office jail roster shows Lee was arrested by the Jonesboro Police Department on July 18 and booked into the Craighead County Detention Center.
Jail records show Lee was booked on the felony vehicle theft charge as well as a parole violation. He is being held on a $15,000 bond.
Lee is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Another Case Shows How Quickly Stolen Vehicles Can Be Scrapped
Although investigators have not alleged forged paperwork was used in the Arkansas case, it is not the first time a vehicle has allegedly been stolen and quickly sold for scrap before its owner could recover it.
Earlier this year, Guessing Headlights reported on a Wisconsin case in which a stolen Toyota Camry was allegedly sold to a scrapyard using forged paperwork before being crushed. That investigation prompted renewed calls for lawmakers to strengthen title verification requirements before vehicles can be accepted for scrap.
The circumstances appear to be different in Jonesboro, but both cases illustrate how difficult it can be for owners to recover a stolen vehicle once it enters the scrap and recycling system.
What Drivers Can Learn
Most drivers who leave a disabled vehicle in a parking lot worry about receiving a parking ticket or finding it towed by the property owner. Few expect someone else to allegedly claim ownership and sell it before they return.
If you have to leave a disabled vehicle overnight, notify the property owner or business if possible, document exactly where the vehicle is parked, remove important documents from inside the vehicle, and arrange for a legitimate tow as soon as you can.
While those steps cannot prevent every theft, they may help establish ownership and speed an investigation if something goes wrong. In this case, investigators say less than a day was enough for the Pathfinder to be towed away, sold for scrap, and crushed before detectives could intervene.