Body Found In Car Towed To Westlake District

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Homicide and coroner's investigators were sent to the Westlake District Tuesday morning after a body was found in a vehicle.

The body was reported at 2:10 a.m. in the 300 block of South Westlake Avenue, Los Angeles police spokeswoman Officer Irma Mota said. The body was reportedly badly decomposed.

"Looked inside, found the body of a deceased male, probably in his late 30s or early 40s," LAPD Capt. Dan Randolph said. "Appears he had been dead for some time."

The car was left in a bizarre fashion -- left in the middle of the street, displaying an Uber sticker on its windshield. The car sat in the middle of the street for most of Monday after security video captured a tow truck dropping the car off.

"Hours go by, the car is still there," neighbor Marek Lewinski said.

Police identified the victim as 39-year-old DiBartolo Frederico. Police said they could not confirm Frederico worked as an Uber driver, or that the car was used as an Uber vehicle. Police also said the car was not reported stolen.

"It was just parked there," neighbor Ever Pena said. "Nobody knew, there were no signs of shooting, or anything, or any violence."

Police say it's not clear where Frederico died. The coroner says its not yet clear would could be the possible cause of death.

Investigators plan to check surveillance video of other surrounding apartments and canvas for witnesses.