'Profound betrayal': Los Angeles investigator charged after stealing from dead bodies, DA says

An investigator with the medical examiner's office in Los Angeles County has been charged after prosecutors say he stole items from dead bodies while he was employed.

Adrian Muñoz, 34, of Los Angeles has been charged with one felony count of grand theft of property and one misdemeanor count of petty theft of property, according to a release from Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. He had been employed by the Department of Medical Examiner since 2018.

In January 2023, Muñoz responded to a death investigation in south Los Angeles after a warehouse worker died of a heart attack. The district attorney's office said surveillance footage shows Muñoz removing a gold crucifix necklace from the deceased man's neck and placing it in his medical bag, which was not returned or documented in the property receipt.

A search of Muñoz’s desk cubicle found rare antique coins with a receipt in the name of a man who was found dead in November 2022, investigators said, and Muñoz had handled the man's death investigation.

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Coroner faces charges, investigation is ongoing

Muñoz's arraignment has been set for December, according to the district attorney's office.

The medical examiner's office said in a statement it is working with law enforcement and the district attorney in the ongoing investigation.

In a statement, Gascón called the alleged crimes a "profound betrayal of the very essence of the role and the solemn duty owed to both the deceased and their bereaved families."