In a small town in Tennessee, a seemingly ordinary transaction took a terrifying turn. Imagine purchasing a used car, believing it to be a legitimate deal, only to discover later that it was reported stolen. This is precisely what one Mid-South couple faced earlier this week. Uncover the Shocking Truth Behind a Stolen Used Car Purchase
Section 1: The Initial Purchase
Amelia Green and her husband Curtis Gouldin thought they were getting a great deal when they bought a 2018 Kia Soul for nearly ,000 from Drive Time on Winchester Road on November 2nd. It all seemed so normal at the time. Just a few weeks later, their lives took an unexpected turn. Green was taking her husband to work in Horn Lake when they noticed flashing blue lights in their rear-view mirror. This was the beginning of a nightmare.They were stopped because the expiration date on the drive out tag was hidden. The officer got their license, registration, and insurance. It was then that the shocker came - the car was reported stolen. Green had never been in such a situation before, let alone being put in handcuffs and placed in a police car.
Section 2: The Investigation and Confiscation
According to an affidavit, the car was reported stolen in Horn Lake back in October. The VIN from the dashboard matched the VIN from the National Crime Information Center, confirming the theft. Documents obtained by FOX13 showed proof of sale, registration, and insurance for the car from the dealership. However, as Gouldin said, "With the sale there was nothing suspicious. They did everything they were supposed to do from the bank to the insurance. But we don't know what goes on behind closed doors with NCIC checks."Once the deputies confiscated the car, the couple was left stranded on the side of the road for an hour. It was a cold and lonely experience, especially at 3:00 a.m. in Memphis. They had to call a Lyft to get home, a difficult and inconvenient situation.
Section 3: The Aftermath at the Dealership
When the couple returned to Drive Time the next morning, they were met with a cold response. The employees had no idea the car was reported stolen and offered no reimbursement. They were told to surrender the car. This left the couple feeling frustrated and betrayed."They took it; we didn't turn it in. We were left on the side of the road for an hour. That's not easy in Memphis. It really shows the kind of world we live in, especially when dealing with a place like Drive Time," said Gouldin.FOX13 went to Drive Time to get some answers, but the manager directed them to reach out to corporate. Despite calling and sending an email on Wednesday afternoon, they have not received a response yet. This only adds to the couple's sense of injustice.
