Another Van Body Goes Undiscovered

The Chronicle reported yesterday that another California crime victim went undiscovered by police when left in a van. Pomona resident Eileen Orta, 22, was reported missing by her family on Tuesday 19th and a full description of Orta and her van were entered into a national law enforcement database. Three days later the van was discovered outside the Pomona Superior Court. The cops called Orta's family to come pick up the van before they impounded the vehicle. Horrifically, the family discovered Orta's body in the back of the van, buried under a pile of blankets and other debris. The victim's mother made the observation that police might have thought to search the van, since they knew it belonged to a missing person. "In hindsight, we're pretty ready to admit we could have gone over (the van) better," said Sgt. Horace Blehr. The story follows that of an Oakland man who whose body went undiscovered for over a week in a van that was in police impound. –Andy Wright