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In a tragic discovery on Monday two individuals were found dead at a homeless encampment in the Westlake District of Los Angeles. Among the deceased was Lucrecia Macias Barajas, a 46-year-old Army veteran and mother of six. Her body was discovered inside a tent on Huntley Circle, reportedly locked from the inside. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the identity of the man found dead at the scene.
Family members had been searching for Barajas, who had been missing for several days, and tracked her cell phone signal to the encampment. Her daughter, Amely Becerra, expressed devastation at the news, emphasizing that her mother was not homeless and had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. According to Westside Current, neighbors reported that at least one of the bodies had been partially eaten by dogs.
The encampment, located in a densely populated area, has long been a source of concern for residents due to its association with drug use, violence, and unsafe conditions. Raul Claros, founder of the nonprofit California Rising, criticized the city for ignoring complaints about the encampment, stating that the tragedy might have been prevented if action had been taken.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged the incident as a reinforcement of the urgent need to address the homelessness crisis. In a statement to KTLA, she promised continued collaboration with the council office to improve public safety and bring more people indoors.
The cause of death for Barajas and the unidentified man remains under investigation.