A Los Angeles County coroner has entered a no contest plea after facing accusations of systematically stealing valuables from deceased individuals for a period exceeding one year. Adrian Muñoz, aged 36, formally pleaded no contest on Friday to one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petty theft, as confirmed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Understanding the No Contest Plea
A no contest plea, legally termed nolo contendere, signifies that the defendant does not admit guilt but waives the right to a trial and consents to be treated as guilty for sentencing purposes. This legal maneuver allows for a resolution without a formal admission of wrongdoing.
The Discovery of the Theft
Investigators uncovered damning surveillance camera footage on January 6, 2023, which captured Muñoz in the act of removing a gold crucifix necklace from the neck of a deceased man while he was officially working on the case. Muñoz was responding to an investigation into the death of a warehouse worker, identified by his family as Miguel Solorio, who had succumbed to a heart attack while on the job.
The footage clearly showed Muñoz placing the crucifix into his medical bag, but he neither returned the item nor documented it on the official property receipt, according to prosecutors. Authorities subsequently conducted a search of Muñoz's desk, where they discovered rare antique coins. The receipt for these coins matched the name of a man who had died on November 12, 2022, and it was confirmed that Muñoz had also handled that particular death investigation.
Outrage from the District Attorney
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman issued a scathing statement condemning Muñoz's actions. 'There is something especially appalling about stealing from the dead. During a time when dignity and respect should be absolute, Mr. Muñoz chose greed,' Hochman declared. He further emphasized that while the plea represents 'a step toward justice, it cannot undo the additional trauma inflicted on families who were already dealing with loss.'
Impact on the Victims' Families
The family of Miguel Solorio revealed to the Los Angeles Times in 2023 that he had worn the gold crucifix necklace for decades. His daughter-in-law, Rosalba Solorio, recounted that after his death, the family inquired about the necklace's whereabouts. They were later given a different necklace that did not belong to Solorio, which they reported, ultimately leading to the discovery of the theft.
Rosalba expressed the family's devastation, stating, 'Finding out what happened with the chain was insult to injury. Somebody who should be helping the family did this, and it's just unexplainable.' The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office was unavailable for comment due to staffing shortages when contacted.
Consequences and Sentencing
Muñoz had been suspended from his role at the medical examiner's office in 2023, as announced at a press conference where Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo expressed profound disappointment. 'We rely on the trust of the community,' Ukpo stated. 'Certainly, this will have shaken that trust.'
According to public LA County employee records, Muñoz began working at the medical examiner's office in 2018 and was earning an annual salary of $92,615 at the time of his suspension in 2023. His base earnings dropped to $0 in 2024 following the suspension.
Muñoz is scheduled to be sentenced at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center on June 5. He is expected to receive:
- Two years of probation
- 180 days in Los Angeles County jail
- Forced resignation from the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)
Additionally, Muñoz has been ordered to pay restitution to the families of the victims from whom he was accused of stealing, aiming to provide some measure of compensation for the emotional and material losses incurred.
