June 25, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

L.A. Coroner Mark Fajardo To Resign Over Undestaffing

(EDITORS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT) The main crypt at the Los Angeles County Coroners office is filled to overflow capacity with some of the 397 bodies the department is handling. Some coroner employees, represented by Service Employee Union International Local 660, have complained about the departments practice of storing some bodies for up to seven years as well as allegedly endangering the surrounding community by dumping bodily fluids, which may contain pathogens, down an ordinary drain. In addition, exterminators continue rodent control in the long-term 600 series storage vault, which was invaded by corpse-chewing rats earlier this year. Reports allege that some remains were found in the drainage system, presumably carried there by rats. (Thinkstock: Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
(EDITORS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT) The main crypt at the Los Angeles County Coroners office is filled to overflow capacity with some of the 397 bodies the department is handling. Some coroner employees, represented by Service Employee Union International Local 660, have complained about the departments practice of storing some bodies for up to seven years as well as allegedly endangering the surrounding community by dumping bodily fluids, which may contain pathogens, down an ordinary drain. In addition, exterminators continue rodent control in the long-term 600 series storage vault, which was invaded by corpse-chewing rats earlier this year. Reports allege that some remains were found in the drainage system, presumably carried there by rats. (Thinkstock: Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner Mark Fajardo will resign from his position atop one of the country’s busiest coroner’s office, his office announced yesterday.

“I can confirm that he is submitting his letter of resignation today,” coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter said early this afternoon. Winter did not say when the resignation would become effective.

In media interviews, Fajardo cited understaffing of his department as a contributing factor in his decision to leave. Officials in Riverside County said late today Fajardo will become coroner there, returning to the position he held before leaving for Los Angeles County in August 2013.

Fajardo’s resignation comes amid heavy scrutiny of his department, according to KCAL9, which broke the news of his resignation and noted that there have been complaints about mismanagement of the toxicology lab.

KCAL9 reported that some 400 cases are backlogged, with issues such as drug and alcohol analyses being delayed, which is holding up the determination of criminal cases.

Fajardo downplayed the problems in his interview with the Los Angeles Times, saying understaffing that prevented the department from doing its job properly was the primary reason for his leaving.

Related Posts

Brentwood Home by Landry Design Group Wins Top National Architecture Award

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Landry Design Group Wins Gold Nugget Awards for Brentwood, Crestwood Projects Landry Design Group (LDG) earned two top honors at...

(Video) WISE & Healthy Aging Helps Loved Ones Boost Their Quality of Life

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs Advance the Dignity of Life for Older Adults See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs...

Masked Federal Agents Detain Iranian Asylum Seeker and Wife in Westwood

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

31-Year-Old Woman was Hospitalized After Possible Medical Emergency On Tuesday, June 24, between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., near the...

Los Angeles Leaders Push to Ban Masks for Federal Agents Amid Immigration Raids

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Concerns Grow Over Anonymous ICE and CBP Officers in Los Angeles   A growing coalition of California lawmakers and local leaders...

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

Squatter-Plagued Beverly Grove Buildings Could Be Razed After Hazard Cleanup

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Demolition of Three Abandoned Apartments May Begin in Two Weeks Three abandoned apartment buildings in Beverly Grove may soon be...

From Westwood to DTLA, Angelenos March Against Military Escalation in Iran

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Protestors Rally at the Westwood Federal Building This Weekend Following President Donald Trump’s authorization of airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear-related...

LAPD Sergeant Killed Assisting Crash Victims on 405 Freeway in Brentwood

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Tragic Early-Morning Collision Claims Two Lives, Including Veteran Sergeant Two people, including an LAPD sergeant, were killed early Monday in...

Recent Homebuyer Down Payments Slip for First Time in Nearly Two Years

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

April’s Median Down Payment Fell as Buyers Lean Toward Lower-Cost Homes The median down payment made by U.S. homebuyers dropped...

Del Rey Affordable Housing Project to Rise on Former Charter School Site

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Community Corp., Local Faith Group Team Up to Build 122 New Apartments Plans are moving forward for a new residential...

Paris Hilton Buys Mark Wahlberg’s Beverly Park Mansion for $63.1M

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

The Heiress and Media Mogul Joins a Star-Studded Neighborhood Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum have purchased a high-profile estate...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

LA City Councilwomen Yaroslavsky and Jurado Call for Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Raids

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

City Motion Targets Alleged Unconstitutional Tactics, End Qualified Immunity for Fed Officers  City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Ysabel Jurado introduced...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...