Riverside woman unknowingly shops with body in trunk

Pomona police have identified the body of a man found inside the trunk of a 1999 Lexus parked outside a Riverside Walmart store by a woman who lived in his neighborhood.

He was 33-year-old Miguel Angel Perez, 33, of Pomona, according to Pomona Sgt. Steve Congalton.

The discovery was made by a woman whose 1999 Lexus was parked outside the Walmart at 5200 Van Buren Boulevard at 4:45 p.m. Saturday said Riverside police Det. David Amador.

“Detectives were able to determine that the victim more than likely died in the City of Pomona,” Amador said. “Pomona homicide detectives have assumed the investigation,” he said.

“The vehicle was registered to an address in Pomona and the owner/driver of the vehicle also lives in Pomona,” Congalton said. “The owner of the vehicle left Pomona and went to work in Riverside early on Saturday morning. After work, at approximately 1600 hours (4 p.m.), the owner of the vehicle detected an odor in her vehicle,” he said. “She stopped at the Walmart in Riverside to do some shopping and attempt to locate whatever was causing the odor. It was at this time the body was located in the trunk,” Congalton said.

“The owner of the vehicle recognized the decedent as an acquaintance from her Pomona neighborhood. It is believed that the body was in the trunk at the time the owner drove to work in Riverside. Based on these facts, the Pomona Police Department responded and took over the investigation,” he said.

Detectives “were unable to determine a cause of death or how the body got into the trunk,” Congalton said. “The owner of the vehicle is cooperating with Police and is not considered to be a suspect,” he said.

Police are asking anyone with information to call detectives at (909) 620-2085. Anonymous tips can be made at Crime Stoppers, (800) 222-8877.