An investigator for the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has been charged with grand theft after he allegedly stole items off of deceased individuals during death investigations, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday afternoon.
Adrian Muñoz, 34 years old, was suspended on Tuesday and charged with one felony count of grand theft of property and one misdemeanor count of petty theft of property. The exact value of what he stole was not clear.
Authorities say surveillance footage caught Muñoz stealing a gold crucifix chain from a man who had died of a heart attack on the job at a warehouse in South Los Angeles on Jan. 6.
Investigators later searched Muñoz’s cubicle and discovered rare antique coins and a receipt belonging to a man who died on Nov. 12, 2022. His death investigation had been handled by Muñoz.
The District Attorney’s Office said that Muñoz had been an employee of the department since 2018.
An investigation is underway to find out if there are more victims, Gascón said.
An arraignment hearing will be set at a later time.
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