On April 18, 2024, the body of 50-year-old Henry E. Jernigan was discovered inside an abandoned U-Haul truck in Los Angeles' Mid-City neighborhood. The vehicle, reported stolen approximately a week earlier, was located near the intersection of Apple Street and Redondo Boulevard. A U-Haul employee, responding to reports from residents about the obstructive vehicle, found Jernigan's body wrapped in a tarp within the cargo area and alerted authorities.
Upon investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) determined that Jernigan had died from a gunshot wound to the head, classifying the case as a homicide. The U-Haul truck had been reported stolen earlier in the month, but the individual who had rented the vehicle was not considered a suspect. At the time of discovery, the body exhibited signs of decomposition, indicating that Jernigan had been deceased for several days.
Jernigan had a criminal history, including two prison sentences within the past eight years. In 2016, he was convicted in Los Angeles County for possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm. Later, in 2020, he was sentenced in Santa Barbara County for conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, with an enhancement for being armed with a firearm. These charges were related to armed robberies at a marijuana cultivation facility in Carpinteria in 2018.
As of now, the LAPD has not announced any arrests or identified any suspects in connection with Jernigan's death. The investigation remains active, and authorities have urged anyone with information to contact West Bureau Homicide detectives at (213) 382-9470.
