Southland/Crime—
A former Los Angeles County medical examiner investigator accused of taking a gold crucifix necklace from a deceased victim pleaded no contest to one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petty theft yesterday. In June of 2023, 37-year-old Adrian Muñoz responded to a death investigation in South Los Angeles. The victim had died of a heart attack while working in a warehouse.
Surveillance footage, showed Muñoz removed a gold crucifix necklace “from the deceased man’s neck and placed it in his medical bag” according to a news release. During a search of Muñoz’s desk, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives reportedly found rare antique coins with a receipt in the name of a man who died on Nov. 12, 2022. Muñoz had handled the man’s death investigation.
“There is something especially appalling about stealing from the dead. During a time when dignity and respect should be absolute, Mr. Muñoz chose greed,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in the news release. Also, Hochman called the plea a “step toward justice,” but admitted, “it cannot undo the additional trauma inflicted on families who were already dealing with loss.”
Muñoz is set to be sentenced on June 5. As part of the plea deal, he faces two years of formal probation, 180 days in Los Angeles County jail, and making restitution to the victims’ families.
