Couple Found in Apparent Murder-Suicide

A man walking his dog discovered a man and woman dead in a parked car in Lincoln Heights Friday morning after an apparent murder-suicide, police said.

The couple are believed to be 22-year-old Patricia Chue and 24-year-old Joaquin Lopez. Chue, the owner of the Honda Accord, was reported missing the night before after apparently being kidnapped by Lopez, police said.

Lopez left a suicide note addressed to his mother on Thursday, stating that he was despondent over his legal and financial problems and could not live with or without Chue, said Los Angeles Police Det. Maria Rivas.

The parents of Lopez called Chue’s residence in an effort to locate the couple. Police searched for them through the night until the discovery of the two bodies Friday.

On Paradise Drive, the resident found a woman in the passenger seat and a man in the driver’s seat. Both were shot once in the head, police said.

The couple had an eight-year relationship until they separated five months ago, Rivas said. They had two children, a 4-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl.

LAPD Capt. Jim Whitley said Lopez had been convicted of cloning telephones and was on probation when he was arrested again for the same crime Nov. 8. He was on bail and awaiting trial.