TOLEDO, Ohio — Since January, 11 Investigates has been working to get a Toledo woman's car back.
Brianna Saldivar first reached out to our team desperate to get her car out of 5 G's Auto Recycling in west Toledo. It had been there since July 2023 after a crash.
Through our investigation, we found Saldivar's insurance paid the owner of the shop, Dennis Futrel, nearly $6,000 to work on the car. But that work was never done.
11 Investigates also found that issues with Futrel were nothing new. Dozens of people have taken Futrel to court over issues with their car after being in his shop, which was once K&K Auto Body.
After our investigation, Toledo police arrested Futrel on multiple charges in the case, including theft.
Her car was towed to another auto body shop in April, where she was given another bill for nearly $6,000 to fix her car.
Mechanics at the shop told WTOL 11 there were parts missing and pieces in places where they did belong.
Now, after 382 days without it, Saldivar finally has her car back.
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"When I drive, I just smile so big, like, it's not real. This is not real," she said. "I'm religious and since the air conditioning doesn't work, I have the sun roof open and I just like say thank you, thank you, thank you."
She says there is still more work to do on her car, though.
"The front bumper was folded and cracked, the paint job was just awful, everything about it was just not the way it should have been," Saldivar said. "He did more damage to the vehicle than I did in the car accident."
Saldivar says she considered selling her engagement ring to help pay to get her car back. But, thanks to some extra help from friends, family and a little faith, her car is finally back in her driveway.
"I really just want to thank you so much because this wouldn't be possible if you hadn't picked our story up and been so persistent about it," Saldivar said.
