Buried car removed from backyard of multi-million dollar Atherton home, investigators say

The owner of the house at the time - records show a man named Johnny Bocktune Lew - had a criminal past.

KGO logo
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Buried car removed from backyard of Atherton home, investigators say
Investigators say they have removed a car that was found earlier this week buried in the backyard of a multi-million dollar mansion in Atherton.

ATHERTON, Calif. (KGO) -- Investigators say they have removed a car that was found earlier this week buried in the backyard of a multi-million dollar mansion in Atherton.



SKY7 flew over the hole on Stockbridge Avenue Saturday afternoon where it was empty.



But it is still a mystery as to what is exactly inside the car, if anything.



However, cadaver dogs did get a number of hits.



Investigators think the car may have been buried since the 1990s.



VIDEO: Car buried in Atherton backyard reportedly stolen in 1992, previous homeowner under spotlight


Johnny Bocktune Lew, the previous owner of the Atherton mansion, is under spotlight after a car stolen in 1992 was found buried in the backyard.


The car is reportedly an early 90s Mercedes Benz model convertible that was reported stolen in September 1992, according to Palo Alto police records. No plates or vehicle identification number information have been released at this time.



The discovery has put the focus on one of the home's previous owner, Johnny Bocktune Lew, who had a checkered past.



Lew died several years ago, and the house has since changed hands several times.



RELATED VIDEO: Car discovered in backyard of Atherton home was likely buried in 1990s, police say

Police are investigating after landscapers discovered a car buried in the backyard of a property in Atherton Thursday.


Police say the current owners had no idea what was underneath their backyard.



But authorities still don't know who buried it or why.



Atherton police are expected to provide an update on the investigation on Monday.



Now Streaming 24/7 Click Here

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live



Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.