William H. Sears was 46 years old when he was murdered. His body was found in the trunk of his vehicle, which had been parked in a residential neighborhood in Clearwater, Florida.
Despite the efforts of local authorities, the person responsible for his death has yet to be brought to justice.
On July 20, 1989, police officers with the Clearwater Police Department were dispatched to Downing Street and Bayshore Boulevard after receiving a call about a suspicious vehicle with a Tennessee license plate.
It had been parked at that location for “several days,” according to the Tampa Tribune.
Officers arrived on the scene and noticed a strong odor emitting from the trunk of the car, where they also saw “dripping blood.”
When they opened the trunk, a body was inside.
The body was positively identified as that of Sears through finger and dental records, which were supplied by the U.S. Air Force
An autopsy performed by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office showed that Sears died from a single gunshot wound to the upper torso area.
The exact time of his death is unknown.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Sears may have been from the Atlanta area, as that was his last known address. But for several years, he resided in the Tampa Bay area, “living out of his car and motels.”
He also lived in California, Tennessee, and Texas, where he lived out of his vehicle or stayed in a motel.
Although detectives have interviewed several suspects, no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding the unsolved murder of William H. Sears is encouraged to contact the Clearwater Police Hotline at (727) 562-4080 or send an email to tips.tips@myclearwater.com.