A former medical examiner investigator with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office was charged with theft after being accused of stealing from dead people.
Adrian Muñoz, 36, was part of a team dispatched to a South LA warehouse on Jan. 3, 2023 when a worker died of a heart attack at work. Muñoz removed the deceased man’s golf crucifix necklace, surveillance video showed. But he never return the item or document it as he was supposed to.
When detectives searched Muñoz’s desk, they found rare antique coins that belonged to another man who had died on Nov. 12, 2022. Muñoz also worked on the coin owner’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,” LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.
Muñoz, 36, pleaded no contest Friday to a number of chares, including grand theft and petty theft.
His sentencing was scheduled for June 5.
Muñoz will be sentenced to two years of formal probation, six months in LA County jail and pay restitutions to each victim’s family, according to the DA’s office. Muñoz will never be allowed to work in law enforcement in California ever again.