Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor 

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner revealed the cause of death for a woman found inside a vehicle in a West Covina neighborhood May 7.

Vivian Ruiz Warner, 55, died a natural death from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. She is listed as unhoused.

Contrary to bad information shared through the westcovina626sgv social pages, Warner was not decapitated.

First responders were called to the neighborhood near South Glendora Avenue and East Service Street around 4:31 p.m. May 7.

“Somebody called, reporting a female unresponsive in a vehicle. Officers attempted contact. There was no response,” according to Lt. Martinez of the West Covina Police Department. “They opened the door and they found that she was deceased.”

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The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources.

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Copyright 2026. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor 

WEST COVINA - Investigators are determining how a woman died inside a vehicle.

First responders were called to the neighborhood near South Glendora Avenue and East Service Street around 4:31 p.m. May 7.

“Somebody called, reporting a female unresponsive in a vehicle. Officers attempted contact. There was no response,” according to Lt. Martinez of the West Covina Police Department. “They opened the door and they found that she was deceased.”

There does not appear to be any foul play, Martinez told SGV CityWatch.

The woman’s identity has not been publicly revealed. Due to staffing shortages, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner is unstaffed Friday.

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Copyright 2026. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor 

WEST COVINA - A Covina man died after being rescued from an LA Fitness swimming pool Wednesday.

The cause of death for 63-year-old Te Lin has been deferred, pending additional investigation, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

First responders were called to LA Fitness, 3101 E. Garvey Ave. N., just after 9:30 a.m. April 22.

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The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources.

Copyright 2026. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor 

WEST COVINA - Police arrested two robbery suspects, recovered a weapon and stolen property Sunday after a victim was held at knifepoint.

A victim was robbed of a gold chain at Plaza West Covina, 112 Plaza Dr., April 19. Police were called to the scene around 1:38 p.m., according to Sgt. Benitez of the West Covina Police Department.

The suspects fled with the goods to the area of the West Covina Post Office, 396 S. California Ave., where responding officers located the suspects, Benitez told SGV CityWatch.

“Once officers made contact with them [the suspects], they were able to recover the stolen chain and return it back to the victim,” Benitez told SGV CityWatch.

The suspects’ names were not immediately available.

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Copyright 2026. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor 

WEST COVINA - A house fire claimed the life of a resident March 5.

Pack rat conditions hindered firefighters’ ability to search the home in the 2100 block of E. Thackery Street. Firefighters were dispatched at 10:12 a.m., according to the West Covina Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived five minutes later and saw smoke and flames from the home. A neighbor believed someone might still be inside, according to the West Covina Fire Department.

“At approximately 10:37 a.m., firefighters located an elderly female inside the residence and removed her from the structure. Despite rapid intervention by firefighter/paramedics, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene,” according to the West Covina.

The fire was knocked down within 25 minutes.

The victim was identified as 76-year-old Janet Capps. She died from inhalation of products of combustion and thermal burns. Her death was ruled accidental, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

The cause is currently under investigation by the West Covina Fire Department Investigation Unit with assistance from the West Covina Police Department, in coordination with regional investigation task forces. Damage to the home is estimated at approximately $200,000, according to the West Covina Fire Department.

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The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources.

Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor 

WEST COVINA - He may have gotten brownie points for creativity, but that will do little in the eyes of the law for a man who attempted to skirt freeway HOV laws recently.

A California Highway Patrol motor officer performed a traffic stop on a motorist who was driving in the HOV lane along the I-10 Freeway in West Covina. The officer noticed something peculiar with a “passenger.”

“Upon closer inspection… that, “Passenger” turned out to be a jacket carefully wrapped around the front seat with the seatbelt fastened across it to resemble a person,” according to the California Highway Patrol.

“Nice try — but jackets don’t count toward Carpool Lane requirements,” according to the CHP. 

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Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 6:05 a.m.: All lanes have reopened, according to the California Highway Patrol.

WEST COVINA - At least one vehicle has rolled over in an injury crash on the eastbound I-10 Freeway at Lark Ellen Avenue Monday.

A red sedan crashed into the center divider around 4:41 a.m. March 2. It is not immediately clear how many other vehicles are involved in the crash.

All eastbound lanes are stopped. Dispatchers had difficulty reaching one of the injured drivers, but eventually spoke to him and he sounded injured, according to California Highway Patrol radio traffic.

There may be one other vehicle rolled over in the crash.

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Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 11:25 a.m.: The 18-month-old child was found safe, according to an announcement shared by West Covina Police around 11 a.m. Suspect Amber Zarate remains at-large.

Isaiah was apparently found in Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood.

WEST COVINA - A woman with a long rap sheet allegedly kidnapped her nephew from a West Covina residence Friday evening.

Isaiah Sunel Nava, 18 months, was allegedly taken by his estranged aunt, 26-year-old Amber Alexis Destiny Zarate, February 13. Police were notified around 5:50 p.m.

It is not publicly clear why Zarate took the child who was only clad in a diaper at the time of his kidnapping.

Zarate is on parole, a known drug user, has violent tendencies, and has outstanding warrants for her arrest. Zarate is homeless and frequents the Los Angeles area, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“Investigators obtained surveillance video showing Zarate in the area at the time of the abduction,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Zarate was last seen wearing a black top, white pants, and carrying a black backpack.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Zarate or the child is urged to call 9-1-1, or the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

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Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two intended victims of a shooting escaped injury Wednesday after being fired upon.

The shooting took place near North Conlon Avenue and West Workman Avenue just before 8 p.m. February 4. Two occupants in a vehicle were approached by a group of people who were also in a vehicle. Words were exchanged and someone in the group opened fire, according to Lt. Weatherman of the West Covina Police Department.

Weatherman said the intended victims did not return fire. He apparently did not know the ages of those involved, nor did he have any suspect descriptions.

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Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.