The coroner’s office and sheriff’s homicide detectives Tuesday confirmed the identity of a man found dead in a pickup truck in the Lake Los Angeles area of Lancaster as the suspect wanted in the killings of three people in Palmdale.
The body was identified as James Todd Brown, 54, and a cause of his death was not immediately known, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau reported.
There were no obvious signs of trauma to Brown and a cause of his death is pending the outcome of an autopsy.
His body was discovered in a silver Toyota pickup truck near the intersection of 250th Street East and Avenue G about 3:45 p.m. Sunday, sheriff’s Deputy Joanna Warren.
Brown was wanted in the killings of three family members and dogs inside the victims’ Palmdale home on Jan. 13.
He lived on the victims’ property in a trailer for approximately two years while doing odd jobs for the victims, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The suspect and victims apparently got into a dispute that led to the killings, according to the sheriff’s department.
The bodies of 72-year-old Richard Gardner II, 56-year-old Pepper Gardner and 52-year-old Richard Gardner III were discovered in the 1100 block of West Avenue N-12, according to the sheriff’s department.
The three victims were stabbed, suffocated and beaten to death in their home. Their dogs were also found beaten to death, authorities said.
A family member asked for a welfare check of the home and upon entering the residence, deputies found the body of a man, then two more victims in another room.
Anyone with any information that could help investigators should call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
–City News Service