Body discovered in the back of stolen U-Haul truck in Mid City

A foul odor emanating from a moving van parked in a Mid-City neighborhood Thursday led authorities to a dead body in the back of a U-Haul truck, police said.

The body was tightly wrapped in a tarp and investigators discovered the male victim was shot in the head, the LAPD announced in a news release Friday. He was identified as 50-year-old Henry Jernigan.

Los Angeles Police were called to the 2400 block of South Redondo Boulevard just before 11 a.m., said Officer Charles Miller.

Residents contacted U-Haul to report the truck abandoned near the intersection of Redondo Boulevard and Apple Street. When an employee with U-Haul went to retrieve the truck, they found what appeared to be a body wrapped in a tarp at the back of the truck, the LAPD said in the news release.

The employee reported a foul odor coming from the truck when they contacted police.

When officers arrived, they discovered that the truck had been reported stolen, Miller said.

Anyone with information should contact West Bureau Homicide detectives at 213-382-9470. Anonymous calls can be made with LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .