New Discoveries Raise Tally of Bodies Found in Cars

The bodies of five men, four of them shot to death, have been found in vehicles across the county since Thursday, but investigators said Sunday they have little information about the deaths.

The two corpses found in a car parked in a modest Burbank neighborhood on Thursday were identified Sunday as Cesar Meza, 34, of Huntington Park, and Omar Carlos Gutierrez, 29, of South Gate. Both died of gunshot wounds to the head, authorities said.

The bodies were found after residents noticed a foul odor from a parked Honda and blood was spotted seeping from the trunk.

“Right now this case is a whodunit,” said Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Killeen. “We’re really looking for help.”

Sheriff’s detectives were also investigating the killing of Hector Manuel Peraza of Compton, who was found dead Saturday night in the trunk of a van left parked along the Long Beach Freeway. He had been shot several times in the chest.

And seven hours after residents of a Leimert Park neighborhood heard gunshots, Los Angeles police looking inside a parked 1995 Jeep Cherokee found the body of a man who had been shot to death, according to Officer Jason Lee. The victim had not been identified by Sunday evening.

One other body was identified Sunday--that of William Mahoney, 44. He was found in a car in Wilmington, apparently the victim of a heroin overdose, officials said.