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Family demands answers after missing man found dead in Azusa police car

By and
Updated  March 28, 2026 1:37pm PDT
Azusa
FOX 11
Man found dead in Azusa police car

Man found dead in Azusa police car

Authorities confirmed the man was not in custody and entered the vehicle without anyone knowing.

The Brief

    • A 37-year-old man, identified by family as Eric Valencia, was found dead inside an unlocked, unoccupied Azusa police vehicle parked at the station.
    • Valencia had been released from custody three days prior; his family had filed a missing persons report before he was discovered unresponsive around 5 a.m. Thursday.
    • It remains unclear how long Valencia was inside the car or his specific cause of death, pending an official autopsy and an independent investigation.

AZUSA, Calif. - The family of 37-year-old Eric Valencia is seeking transparency from the Azusa Police Department after he was found dead in a parked patrol vehicle just days after his birthday. 

While authorities have confirmed the vehicle was left unlocked for maintenance, loved ones are questioning how the missing man ended up in the car unnoticed.

What we know:

According to police and family statements, Valencia was found unresponsive in the backseat of a patrol car parked in front of the Azusa police station shortly before 5 a.m. on March 26.

Chief Rocky Wenrick stated the vehicle was "pending mandatory maintenance" and admitted it should have been secured.

A family friend told FOX 11 that Valencia had been taken into custody for a DUI on March 23 but was released for lack of evidence. Following his release, his family filed a missing persons report when they could not locate him. 

"We don't know what took place here," one family member said. "He was pronounced deceased here, you know, in front of the police station. Doesn't make any sense to any of us."

What we don't know:

The specific cause and manner of Valencia's death are currently unknown, as the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has yet to perform an autopsy. 

It is also unclear exactly when or how Valencia entered the unlocked vehicle, or how long he had been inside before being discovered by staff.

It's unclear if foul play or a medical emergency was involved.

What they're saying:

"To ensure an independent and thorough review, the Azusa Police Department has retained an outside investigative firm, the JL Group, to conduct an independent investigation into the entire incident, including determining why the vehicle was not locked," Chief Wenrick said in a formal statement.

What's next:

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death while the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will review all evidence and security footage.

The JL Group will conduct an independent probe into the department's failure to secure the vehicle.

The Source: This report is based on information from the Azusa Police Department and direct interviews with Valencia's family and friends at the scene in Azusa.

AzusaLos Angeles County