Rodolfo Avina, a 34-year-old Latino, was found dead on December 4, 2015, in El Monte, California. His body was discovered in the back seat of his black Cadillac SRX, parked at the corner of Cogswell Road and Ferris Road. The discovery was made by a gardener who noticed an unresponsive man in the vehicle and alerted paramedics. Avina was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:15 p.m., with a gunshot wound to his upper body.
According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, he had been reported missing by his girlfriend on November 24, 2015.
The investigation into Avina's death revealed that a parking officer had issued a ticket to the Cadillac on the morning of December 3, but it was unclear if the officer noticed anyone in the back seat at that time. A neighbor reported seeing the car on December 2 and recalled a foul odor emanating from the area, though it was uncertain if it came from the vehicle or a nearby storm drain. The car showed no signs of forced entry or gunfire damage, and investigators were processing it for further evidence.
This incident was part of a troubling pattern in the San Gabriel Valley, where four bodies were found in vehicles near the 605 Freeway within a two-week span. Despite these similarities, authorities found no direct connections between the cases. The other victims included Eric Hector Sarabia, found dead in his van on November 24; Martin Diaz, shot while driving on November 25; and Dawn Francis McEveety, whose body was discovered in an ice chest in an abandoned vehicle on November 29.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau took charge of the investigation into Avina's death. They urged anyone with information to come forward, offering anonymity through Crime Stoppers. Despite these efforts, there were no immediate arrests or identified suspects in connection with Avina's murder. The case remains open, with investigators continuing to seek leads that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death.
