California man found dead in back of police car outside station as new details emerge

Family and friends of Eric Valencia are demanding answers from the Azusa Police Department and questioning what exactly happened to the 37-year-old, whose body was found inside a parked squad car last week. 

Valencia was arrested on March 23 on suspicion of driving under the influence but was later released due to lack of evidence. 

Following his release, the family couldn’t find Valencia and filed a missing person report, according to FOX 11.

Three days later, on March 26, his body was discovered in the back seat of an out of service police car that was parked in front of the station in downtown Azusa, according to Chief of Police Rocky Wenrick. 

Now, the family is seeking transparency and answers to the mystery surrounding Valencia’s death.

“We don’t know what took place here,” a family member told the outlet. “He was pronounced deceased here, you know, in front of the police station. Doesn’t make any sense to any of us.”

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.