Missing Texas mom's car found abandoned in flooded parking lot | Forensic Files

when is the car found and how is it found so the car was found on Monday the Monday after she goes missing correct
she was reported missing on Saturday the storm hits us Sunday night and the floodwaters are starting to rise Monday
they're continuing to rise and then through social media some friends were involved those people spotted the
vehicle in the motel six parking lot was it easy to get in the car well you could get in the car because it
was unlocked and the keys were sitting on the console obviously you don't leave a Mercedes that's in really good shape
in a motel 6 parking lot with the doors unlocked and the keys on the console set
up for someone to take it correct but at the same time we couldn't just assume that you would think a fancy car would
be a great target for a thief why do you think it wasn't taken that was one of the things that kind of threw us off
when it was discovered that that was the missing woman's car anybody was around the car what would become a person of
interest and potentially a suspect just add him to the list Sheriff but by the time we got to it well somebody was
trying to steal it so at one point we have two of our detectives that are in a footrace with these people that were
fleeing and the reason they were fleeing wasn't because they were part of the missing aspect of crystal McDowell but
it was real obvious to us they were intent was to try and steal the car but they couldn't because the water had
risen you couldn't get it out of the parking lot

Crystal McDowell vanished in August 2017, just before Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area. When her car is found in a flooded Motel 6 parking lot, the list of possible suspects grows longer, and the storm makes it even harder for investigators to find out what happened to her.

Get the latest news and best in original reporting from CBS News delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to newsletters HERE: http://cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T

Get your news on the go! Download CBS News mobile apps HERE: http://cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8

Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream local news live, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! http://bit.ly/1OQA29B

--- "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. For 27 seasons, "48 Hours" has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives. Check local listings for "48 Hours" broadcast times.

Brief Summary

The episode covers the discovery of a missing woman's car and the investigation into its unusual circumstances.

Key points

The Car Discovery. The car was found unlocked in a motel parking lot, raising questions about its theft potential.
A Race Against Time. Detectives chase suspects trying to steal the car, revealing unexpected twists in the investigation.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Why do you think it wasn't taken?

Questioning the car's theft potential.

0:49WatchOct 27, 2017

More from 48 Hours

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.