Val Verde Man, 30, Found Dead in Wash
A Val Verde man who apparently ignored the advice of a shop owner to seek medical aid for chest pains was found dead Friday morning in a dry wash in his community, authorities said.
Investigators for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department believe that Rafael Nieves, 30, died of natural causes, but are awaiting autopsy results to be certain, said Sgt. Art Reddy of the sheriff’s Santa Clarita Valley station.
“He had been talking to one of the local store owners for the last couple days, saying that he didn’t feel good,” Reddy said. “He had been complaining of chest pains.
“She urged him to seek medical attention, but he didn’t.”
A teen-ager found the man’s body about 9:30 a.m. in the wash near the corner of San Martinez Road and St. Lawrence Street, Reddy said.
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