Police officers from the Azusa Police Department made a grim discovery on the morning of March 26 when they found the body of 37-year-old Eric Valencia decomposing in the backseat of one of their patrol vehicles.
The department released body camera footage showing officers uncovering the corpse, shocking both the force and the local community.
Valencia had been pulled over six days earlier, on March 20, on suspicion of driving under the influence while transporting his children in the vehicle.
Reports indicate he told officers he had consumed only one beer, but a breathalyzer test revealed his blood alcohol concentration was nearly twice the legal limit. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of DUI and felony child endangerment and booked into the local jail.
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After his release on March 23, Valencia was seen approaching the police vehicle outside the department headquarters. According to reports, he opened an unlocked door and entered the backseat of the patrol car, showing no visible signs of distress at the time.
The following day, Valencia’s family filed a missing person’s report with the police, unaware of his whereabouts. His body was discovered shortly thereafter. Authorities have not yet determined the official cause of death, and investigations are ongoing.
The Azusa Police Department has declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding how Valencia ended up in the patrol vehicle or whether any procedural lapses occurred. Local authorities have assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway to establish the facts of the case.