LOS ANGELES, CA – September 9, 2025 – A grim discovery unfolded Tuesday afternoon in South Los Angeles, where authorities launched a death investigation after a body was found inside a vehicle at a local tow yard. Los Angeles Police Department officers responded around noon to the 1900 block of West Gage Avenue, a scene that quickly drew attention due to the state of the vehicle.
Discovery at Gage Avenue Tow Yard
Aerial footage from the scene showed investigators meticulously examining the trunk of a blue sedan, identified as a 2007 Honda Civic. The vehicle appeared to have sustained significant fire damage, with the trunk showing signs of charring. Crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department were also present at the tow lot, assisting in the initial stages of the investigation. While details remain scarce, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed it was a death investigation and did not immediately release further information.
Link to Missing Persons Probe and Unanswered Questions
Sources familiar with the investigation have indicated that the charred Honda Civic is believed to be connected to a missing persons report. The vehicle, which reportedly bore Texas license plates, had been towed to the lot after being reported abandoned in the Hollywood Hills approximately five days prior to its discovery. However, conflicting reports suggest the car was towed to the lot on Sunday, September 7, from another location in South Los Angeles, and had been impounded since August 25. The precise timeline of the vehicle’s journey to the tow yard and its prior abandonment is a key area of focus for investigators. Officials have yet to release the identity of the deceased or the cause of death, which is pending the results of the ongoing investigation and forensic examination.
Parallel Investigations Grip Los Angeles
The discovery in South Los Angeles occurred just one day after a separate, high-profile incident where human remains were found inside a Tesla at a Hollywood tow yard. That vehicle was registered to musician D4vd, and authorities are treating that case, which involved a dismembered and decomposed body, as a homicide. Despite the close proximity of these two unsettling findings within the city, law enforcement officials have stated that they do not believe the two cases are connected. The investigation into the Hollywood Tesla incident is also progressing, with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner releasing some details about the unidentified female victim found there.
Official Statements and Ongoing Probe
Authorities have emphasized that both investigations are active and ongoing. The nature of the discovery in the South Los Angeles tow yard, particularly the charred state of the vehicle, raises significant questions about the circumstances leading up to the victim’s death. Detectives are working to piece together the timeline of events, identify the victim, and determine if foul play was involved. The presence of fire damage in the trunk adds another layer of complexity to the probe. While firefighters had previously extinguished a fire related to the vehicle, it is understood they did not discover the remains at that time. The Los Angeles Police Department is appealing to the public for any information that could assist in these sensitive investigations, underscoring the commitment to bringing clarity to these grim discoveries. The Los Angeles area continues to be the spotlight for these unfolding news stories, highlighting the diligence of law enforcement in addressing complex cases.
