Meadows Auto, a seemingly ordinary automotive business in Mesa, Arizona, has become the center of a major police investigation.
The finding of stolen vehicles at the business location led to the uncovering of drugs, firearms, and two human skulls. This case has thrown a spotlight on the darker underbelly of vehicle theft and illegal activities masquerading behind legitimate business fronts.
On February 8, detectives from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) executed a search warrant at Meadows Auto in Mesa, following leads about stolen vehicles at the business parking lot. What was anticipated to be a straightforward operation to recover stolen property quickly escalated into a multifaceted criminal investigation.
The initial discovery included seven stolen vehicles—a 2008 Ford pickup truck, a 2016 Arctic Cat ATV, a Clark forklift, and four trailers. However, as investigators delved deeper into the premises, they unearthed more than just stolen vehicles. In addition to the shocking discovery of two human skulls, cops found two pounds of methamphetamine, two rifles, and a sawed-off shotgun.
The human skulls, whose origins and identities remain a mystery, were sent to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office for analysis, adding a macabre twist to an already complex case.
Eddie Meadows, 45, the owner of Meadows Auto, and Tara Montgomery, 40, were arrested in connection with the findings. Meadows faces charges including theft of means of transportation, possession of a weapon by a prohibited possessor, and possession of a dangerous drug. Montgomery has been charged with numerous drug-related offenses. Both were booked into the Maricopa County Jail, awaiting further legal proceedings.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety has not disclosed whether Meadows Auto was operating as a legitimate business or merely serving as a facade for the illegal activities discovered. Bart Graves, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, indicated that the operation of some automotive businesses might be a front for more sinister undertakings.
The discovery of human skulls has particularly alarmed the community, raising serious questions about the extent of illegal activities at Meadows Auto and whether more sinister crimes may be connected to the location. The ongoing investigation by the Arizona Department of Public Safety aims to unravel the full scope of the operation at Meadows Auto and to bring those responsible to justice.