On the morning of Tuesday, December 17, 2019, the body of George Angel Garcia, a 43-year-old Latino man, was discovered near a set of railroad tracks in the San Fernando Valley. The grim finding was made in an industrial area within the Valley Glen neighborhood, a community known for its blend of residential homes and commercial businesses. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood division were dispatched to the 12500 block of Raymer Street around 10:30 a.m. following a call for a death investigation.
Upon arrival, police located Mr. Garcia's body near the tracks. According to the Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner's records, he had suffered blunt force trauma to his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The industrial setting, adjacent to the hum of daily commerce and the rumble of passing trains, became an active crime scene as detectives from the LAPD's Valley Bureau Homicide unit began their investigation into the violent death.
Investigators worked to piece together the final hours of George Garcia's life. Based on their preliminary findings, they believe the fatal assault occurred sometime between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. that same morning, in the area just south of the railroad tracks. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, and authorities did not release any information about a potential suspect or suspects. The case was left with many unanswered questions, prompting a public appeal for assistance.
Detectives urged anyone who might have been in the industrial area of Raymer Street that morning and witnessed any unusual activity to come forward. They specifically asked for information from anyone who may have seen an altercation or anything out of the ordinary in the vicinity of the tracks. The lead detective on the case was identified as Christine Moselle of the Valley Bureau Homicide unit, and her contact information was distributed to the media in the hopes of generating leads. A general Crime Stoppers number was also provided for individuals who wished to provide information anonymously.
Born on December 31, 1975, to Magdalena Apocada and George Angel Garcia, George was just two weeks shy of his 44th birthday when his life was taken. His death left a void in the lives of his extensive family. He was survived by his parents, his brothers Jason, Joshua, and Cheyenne, and his sisters Marilyn, Christel, Dana, and Elisha. An obituary published for him remembered him as a man who would be "dearly missed by his family and friends," a somber testament to the personal loss behind the homicide statistics.
Years have passed since George Angel Garcia was killed, and his case has grown cold. Despite the initial investigation and the public's call for help, no arrests have been announced, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The circumstances surrounding his presence at the railroad tracks that morning and the reason for the brutal attack remain a mystery. For his family, the pain of his sudden and violent death is compounded by the lack of justice. The case remains open in the files of the LAPD, awaiting the crucial piece of information that could finally solve his murder.
