Authorities were working to determine the cause of death of a man whose decomposing body was found early Tuesday in the back seat of a car that had apparently been towed to the Westlake area.
Federico DiBartolo, 39, is believed to have been a transient, said coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.
Investigators were working to determine if foul play was involved, and an autopsy was pending to determine the cause of his death.
The body was discovered at 2:10 a.m. in the 300 block of South Westlake Avenue, said Officer Irma Mota of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Division.
Residents said the black Hyundai Elantra, which had an Uber sticker in the window, had been at the location for hours before police arrived.
Area resident Marek Lewinski told ABC7 of capturing what appeared to be a tow truck on surveillance video, dropping off the car in middle of Westlake Avenue near Maryland Street, then taking off about 3 p.m. Monday.
—City News Service