3 Muslims allowed to leave traffic stop with possible dead child in trunk

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Authorities Searching For Car Possibly Carrying Dead Child CREATED Dec 10, 2014 - UPDATED: Dec 11, 2014 | 6:12 AM MILLERSVILLE, Tenn. – A statewide search is underway for a car that could be carrying the body of a deceased child.

Officials with the Millersville Police Department said an officer pulled over a vehicle on Interstate 65 South around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday because it had a temporary tag that was difficult to read.

Three men were inside the vehicle. A man claiming to be from Saudi Arabia told the officer they were traveling from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Franklin, Tennessee, to bury a child in accordance with their Islamic faith.

He told the officer the child was inside the trunk.

They said the body had been placed there by an Imam, a leader within the Islamic Community, and it would be against their beliefs to disturb the body.

Not wanting to disrupt a religious ceremony, the officer allowed them to leave.

Once Millersville Police Chief Chief David Hindman was notified, authorities began searching for the car.

Hindman said the main purpose in talking to the men is to gain more information as to how the child died. Detectives are also reaching out to mosques in Murfreesboro and Nashville to see if the men possibly went there.

“I do understand with him being of Muslim faith, but there’s still laws that we have to observe here,” Hindman said.

The car was described as a 2013 or 2014 blue Dodge Charger with a rear-spoiler and black rims.

Hindman said the officer made a mistake and was dealt with according to what he thought was appropriate.

On Thursday morning, Bowling Green Police said they have had no child deaths reported recently. The mosque in Franklin also said they had no reports of deceased children being brought to them.

If you see the car, call authorities.

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