Homeless encampment under I-10 freeway

Authorities found piles of trash inside a homeless camp under the 10 Freeway, including syringes, knives, an M-16 ammunition clip and the carcass of what appeared to be a cat.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Caltrans worker Michael Gill holds a light inside a homeless camp, called the Cave by its denizens.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

In several crawl spaces, authorities also found rattles and children’s toys.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Caltrans workers remove a dead cat from the homeless camp.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A Caltrans worker hauls out trash from vault, which is part of the support system for the freeway.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Danny Rodriguez with New Life Youth Program crawls into the Cave.”Rodriguez volunteers around the area to bring food and clothing to the homeless.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Richard Dafoe, 56, also known as the Wizard for his ample white beard and wild hair, gathers up his belongings before deciding where he will spend the night. He said he had been living in and around the Cave for about 10 years.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Danny Rodriguez of the New Life Youth Program, center, gets a tour of the Cave from Jamie Dewire, left, and Richard Dafoe. Dewire died two days after this photo was taken under the Ramona bridge May 14.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Charles Dewire shows where people once lived near the Cave in Baldwin Park. He said, “It’s just a place where homeless people go to sleep.” Dewire said he has lived there for four or five months. His sister Jamie Dewire died May 14 under the Ramona bridge nearby.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Michael Bullers and his girlfriend, Pearl Mibbs, live near he Cave in Baldwin Park. They are both homeless. “We don’t want the community to think all homeless are trashy. We want to set an example for the other homeless people. Even though you’re homeless you can still be clean,” Bullers said. Mibbs says she has lived nearby for more than five years. “I love being out here. This is my life,” she says.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Pearl Mibbs, who lives in the Cave, near the 10 Freeway near the San Gabriel River, gives her dog Queenie water before making herself some coffee.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

The Cave, as it is known to its denizens, is under the 10 Freeway near the San Gabriel River.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)