Eric Valencia’s loved ones are urging the Azusa Police Department to clarify the circumstances that led to the discovery of his body inside a stationary squad car last week. The 37-year-old’s family and friends are perplexed and seeking clarity.
Valencia was initially apprehended on March 23 on a DUI suspicion but was subsequently released due to insufficient evidence.
After his release, Valencia’s family reported him missing, as they were unable to locate him, according to a report from FOX 11.
On March 26, three days post-release, Valencia’s body was tragically found in the back of an inactive police vehicle parked outside the downtown Azusa station, as confirmed by Police Chief Rocky Wenrick.
The bereaved family is now calling for transparency and answers to unravel the enigma of Valencia’s untimely demise.
“We are in the dark about what happened,” a family member expressed to the media. “His death, right in front of the police station, is baffling to us all.”
It’s unclear exactly how Valencia entered the vehicle and how much time passed before his body was discovered, but Wenrick acknowledged the patrol car “should have been secured.”
Mabel Torres, whose son was friends with Valencia, described him as a “kind hearted man.”
“May justice be served I will pray hard for everything to come to light cause you didn’t deserve to go out this way,” Torres said in a Facebook post on Friday.
Valencia’s cousin, Andrea, also demanded accountability.
“Please keep my family in prayer and bring justice for cousin Eric Valencia,” she said in a Facebook post.
An independent firm was hired to conduct an investigation into the incident, Wenrick said, including determining why the vehicle was not locked.
Azusa police are also conducting a criminal investigation into the incident.
Valencia’s cause of death is currently unknown, and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has yet to perform an autopsy.
