I don't know of any state where a car can legally be scrapped without being in possession of a bill of sale or title. And it takes a long time for storage places to get throught the legal steps to sell or otherwise dispose of abandoned property. Something doesn't jive.
I second that. In most if not all states, a title has to be in hand or a reputable yard can't touch it. This makes it difficult for criminals to dispose of a stolen vehicle that's been stripped of parts (of course, where there's a will, there's a way). If you have the energy, get a lawyer to look into it.
