A man in Las Vegas has been arrested after police found a severed head and other body parts in his ute.
The Las Vegal Review Journal reported Eric Holland, 57, would be charged with murder and held without bail.
However, Holland's defence lawyer said his client was just an "unlucky thief" that stole the wrong vehicle.
"In order to believe that he had knowledge of what was inside that vehicle, you would have to believe that he intentionally led the police to the evidence," defence lawyer David Westbrook said following a court bail hearing. "Why would he do that?"
The Review Journal reported Las Vegas police attempted to stop a Toyota Tundra at a traffic stop on December 23, after a license check showed the driver's registration was suspended. The driver fled and reportedly switched vehicles to a Chevrolet Avalanche at a parking garage and fled again.
Officers managed to chase down the Chevy where Holland attempted to flee the car, but he was stunned with a taser and detained, police said.
Once Holland was in custody police found both vehicles were reported stolen.
When searching the truck, police found a black bag emitting a "foul odour" and several coolers taped shut, allegedly containing a severed head, two human legs and a torso.
The Clark County coroner's office identified the victim as Richard P Miller, 65, of Las Vegas and ruled the death as a homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds.
According to the prosecutor, Giancarlo Pesci, Holland and Miller were known to each other.
Holland was also found with three handguns, one of which claimed to be the murder weapon.
Pesci said Holland has a criminal record dating back to 1970 including assault with a deadly weapon, assaulting a police officer and theft.
