2 More Bodies Found in Griffith Park; Bringing Total to 5 in Last 10 Days

Homicide detectives closed Griffith Park to traffic and kept joggers off some trails early Wednesday as they investigated the deaths of two men in a van parked on a lonely road.

Park rangers discovered the bodies about 10 p.m. Tuesday while checking the area to make certain that all visitors were gone for the night.

The men, described as Latino residents of Los Angeles, aged 33 and 31, were found in the blue Dodge van at a turnout spot on Vista del Valle in the Bee Rock area, about a mile east of Mt. Hollywood Drive, Los Angeles Police Lt. Fred Nixon said.

Roadside trash such as beer cans and takeout food containers indicated that the site is a popular parking spot.

Appears to Be Murder

A coroner’s spokesman said late Wednesday that autopsies had not yet been conducted. Police Lt. John Zorn said it appeared that the men had been murdered, but he said he had nothing to indicate gang involvement.

The men had been identified, but the names were not be released because next of kin had not been notified.

The discovery brought to five the number of bodies found in Griffith Park during the last 10 days. Among these were skeletal remains of two people, identified as Patricia Chilcote Luz and Robin K. Waters, who apparently killed themselves six years ago in a satanic pact.

The other recently found body was that of 9-year-old Nadia Puente, who was strangled and dumped in trash can after being kidnaped in Santa Ana.