Prosecutors have expanded a homicide case involving a body found inside the trunk of a burned vehicle at a South Los Angeles tow yard. Court documents now identify the victim as Soledad Lopez and charge three people with premeditated murder. The case, which began with an arrest last year, has grown as investigators filed additional charges and requested arrest warrants for two more suspects.
Discovery
The investigation began on September 9, 2025, when detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit conducted a follow-up investigation at a tow yard on the 1900 block of West Gage Avenue in South Los Angeles.
During the search, investigators discovered a body inside the trunk of a burned Honda that was registered to the victim.
According to an amended felony complaint filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on April 7, 2026, the victim has been identified as Soledad Lopez. Prosecutors allege the killing occurred on or about September 7, 2025.
Charges
The amended complaint charges three individuals in connection with Lopez’s death.
In addition to the previously charged defendant, prosecutors have added 43-year-old Mariana Yeli Yepez-Cigarroa and 34-year-old Oscar Oswaldo Funes Villafranca as co-defendants.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has requested arrest warrants for Yepez-Cigarroa and Funes Villafranca, with bail set at $2 million for each.
Allegations
According to the felony complaint, prosecutors allege the murder was “willful, deliberate and premeditated.”
The filing further states that the manner in which the defendants allegedly carried out the offense demonstrated “planning, sophistication, and professionalism,” as described under California Rules of Court Rule 4.421(a)(8).
These allegations have been made by prosecutors and remain subject to judicial proceedings.
Unknowns
Authorities have not disclosed the specific cause of Soledad Lopez’s death.
Investigators also have not explained how they initially linked the first defendant, Diaz, to the homicide or what evidence led them to identify Yepez-Cigarroa and Funes Villafranca as additional suspects.
Those details may become available as court proceedings continue.
Next
Diaz is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing that will determine whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
Meanwhile, law enforcement authorities are working to execute the requested arrest warrants for Yepez-Cigarroa and Funes Villafranca.
The case remains under investigation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
FAQs
Who was the victim?
The victim was identified as Soledad Lopez.
Where was the body found?
Inside a burned car at a South LA tow yard.
How many people have been charged?
Three suspects have been charged.
Has the cause of death been released?
No. Authorities have not disclosed it.
What happens next in the case?
A court hearing and additional arrest efforts continue.
