Deceased Passenger Found During Douglas County Traffic Stop, Investigation Ongoing

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a traffic stop near Thornton Road and Interstate 20 on the night of January 29, 2025, and discovered a deceased passenger inside the vehicle.

The Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene to investigate. The driver was taken to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for questioning and cooperated with authorities. The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office was briefed on the case, and after initial questioning, the driver was released pending further investigation.

The deceased individual has been identified as Malachi A. Mitchell. Since the incident, authorities have received threats against the driver’s family. In response, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has increased patrol efforts and surveillance, with additional support from the Special Operations Division.

The investigation remains active, and officials have stated no further information will be released at this time. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review and potential prosecution.