Azusa man found in police car died of heat, medical examiner says

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has determined that a 37-year-old man found dead inside an Azusa Police Department patrol car died of hyperthermia, officials announced Saturday, nearly two months after his body was discovered.

The death of Eric Valencia has drawn scrutiny to Azusa police procedures after the department acknowledged that the out-of-service vehicle he entered should have been locked.

Valencia entered the unlocked, out-of-service patrol SUV parked outside the Azusa Police Department on March 23, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Surveillance footage captured him opening the rear door, climbing inside and pulling it shut behind him. His body was discovered three days later, on March 26.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as hyperthermia, ABC7 reported. Valencia had been arrested days earlier on suspicion of driving under the influence and child endangerment; his blood alcohol level at the time of arrest was more than twice the legal limit. He had been released before he entered the vehicle.

"There were no signs of major trauma observed on Mr. Valencia, his body," Azusa Police Chief Rocky Wenrick said at a press conference in March, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Wenrick disclosed additional findings at the same briefing. "Investigators learned that Mr. Valencia had been reported missing to the Azusa Police Department just hours before his discovery," Wenrick said. He also stated that "Investigators also determined that Mr. Valencia had a functioning cellphone with him in the backseat of the patrol unit when he was discovered."

Azusa police acknowledged that the out-of-service vehicle should have been locked at the time Valencia entered it.

Azusa police have since hired an independent investigator to review the circumstances surrounding Valencia's death, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.