A woman was found dead — “stuck” in a clothing donation drop box — in Plantation, Fla., on June 27, 2025
Police said “it looks like this incident is an accident”
The woman reportedly was homeless and may have died by asphyxiation while attempting to retrieve items from the box
Florida police were sent to investigate a report of someone trapped inside a clothing donation drop box, but what they found was much worse.
In the morning of Friday, June 27, police officers in Plantation, Fla. arrived at the donation bin on the 8300 block of West Federated Roadway after someone reported a “person stuck” inside of it, according to the Plantation Police Department (PPD). A teacher who works near the box made the discovery around 6:45 a.m. local time, per NBC Miami.
When PPD officers arrived at the roadside box — a large, pink container labeled “clothes & shoes donation center” in all capital letters, per footage shared by CBS Miami — they realized the person was dead.
The deceased was found “partially stuck in the donation box,” per PPD.
It is not immediately clear whether the woman’s death was intentional or accidental, but authorities are leaning toward the latter.
“At this time,” the PPD said, “it looks like this incident is an accident, but our detective bureau is conducting a full investigation.”
The woman has not yet been identified, with the PPD stating that her name “will be released at a later time, pending notification of the next of kin.”
The PPD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Saturday, June 28.
NBC Miami and Fox affiliate WSVN reported that the woman was middle-aged and homeless, adding that she may have died by asphyxiation while attempting to retrieve items from the box.
An official cause of death has not yet been been released.
“I’ve dropped clothes off in that bin, and the opening is super small,” a woman who works near the drop box 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 added.
