Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

LAPD Investigate Decomposed Body Found in Recycling Center

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

PoliceLine_DoNotCross.jpg

The Los Angeles Police Department is working to piece together how a badly decomposed body came to be among the refuse at the L.A. Recycling Center in Downtown. The remains were found by workmen following an afternoon drop-off.

“We’ve begun our investigation as if it were a homicide, but it is too soon to determine how this person died," says Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division, noting that such a discovery is "quite rare."

The LAPD will be looking at truck schedules to determine when the load carrying the body was delivered as they attempt to "find any reference to the body’s origin."

An autopsy has been scheduled to help identify the remains and the cause of death. The body is so badly decomposed, however, that at this time the detectives cannot ascertain the person's gender, age, or race, despite initial reports the body was that of a female.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today