A rental vehicle reported stolen in an abduction last week was found by the rental company and cleaned before police were notified, investigators were told Monday.
Carson City Sheriff's Detective Dave Legros said Enterprise Rent-A-Car learned on Monday that the vehicle they recovered on Old Virginia Road on Friday night had been reported stolen.
"Unfortunately, they cleaned it out and re-rented it," said Legros.
On Thursday, a Carson City man was abducted from his Edmonds Drive apartment by two men. He was beaten and stabbed repeatedly and had his throat slashed before the two suspects left him to die in the desert.
The man regained consciousness and was able to walk to the road, where passersby picked him up.
When the kidnappers took the man from his home, they also took the keys to a rental car from his girlfriend. Investigators had been looking for that vehicle, hoping it would yield clues to the identities of the assailants who claimed they were members of the "Tijuana Cartel," according to investigators.
The victim has since been released from the hospital and is in an undisclosed location, said Legros.
On Friday, workers with Colorock in the 11000 block of Old Virginia Road noticed an Enterprise key ring in a pile of debris. When one of the workers pushed a button on the key ring they heard a beep from the stolen 2008 Chevy Cobalt on the corner.
Colorock notified Enterprise and they picked up the vehicle on Friday night.
Legros said Enterprise attempted to contact the victim of the assault, who had rented the vehicle, but were unable to.
They then cleaned the vehicle, which was described as being in perfect condition, and rented it out again, he said.
When a loss prevention officer with Enterprise was looking through stolen vehicle records, the officer came across the Cobalt entered into the National Crime Information Center database.
"As soon as they found out, they called us," said Legros.
But any evidence from the vehicle that could lead to the identities of the assailants has since been lost, he said.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Detective Craig Lowe at 887-2020 ext. 41403.
Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.