Detectives Continue to Investigate Mystery of Decomposing Body Found in Polliwog Park

Detectives investigating the death of a Long Beach man whose decomposing body was found in Polliwog Park on July 11 continue to follow-up leads and tips in the case, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Mario Herrera, the 21-year-old father of a two-year-old boy, was last seen alive around July 7, according to investigators. His concealed and wrapped body was discovered on a fertilizer pile, sparking overhead helicopters, TV news media vans and onlookers who gathered near the scene late the afternoon of July 11, many remaining into the night.

Authorities are waiting for a toxicology report, which could take another four to seven weeks, to help them determine Herrera's cause of death, said Lt. dave Coleman. No "apparent wounds" were seen during the coroner's autopsy, he said.

Detectives are using phone records and speaking with family, friends and acquaintances in an attempt to trace Herrera's last steps and figure out what happened. Investigators believe at least two people placed the body on the fertilizer and that those who did were aware of the site prior to dumping the body.

Although Polliwog Park is heavily used, the area where the body was found is out of the way and accessible by vehicle down a one-car-at-a-time paved road. Coleman said they suspect a vehicle transported the body to the location and that it would have taken at least two people to carry the "dead heavy weight" of a 160-lb. body that would also have proven to be "unwieldy."

Authorities are not releasing details about the wrapping that covered the body, whether the body was clothed or not and other information to avoid tainting any potential leads, tips or a confession. "We will treat it as a homicide until we find out something later," said Coleman.

If the death was accidental, the angle of the investigation could turn away from homicide, said Coleman. If the death was an overdose, it wouldn't necessarily be a crime, he said.

It's not unusual for an accidental death to turn into a caper when those who were with the person when they died assume a crime may have occurred and don't know what to do, said Coleman. 

Sometimes, as a body is "getting kind of ripe and funky," people will make the decision to dump it, he said. 

Coleman also said getting rid of a body in Southern California's urban area is "somewhat kind of hard" and that body dumpers tend to go to more remote areas they're aware of or have been to before, even if just once.

The area where the body was dumped is out of view of most of the public. Though there is a lockable gate at the top of the one-way road, investigators have learned the city does not lock it. 

Begg Pool and Begg Field, the two areas in Polliwog Park that are closest to where the body was found, are somewhat secluded, with tall trees on one side, the pool and its fences and associated buildings acting as another border, the vast open field with its fences as another, and a sloped hillside the fourth side. Above that sloped hillside is a fence, a parking lot and public pre-school that even when in session, is not typically accessed via this area.

Coleman said the body dumpers were "pretty quick and stealthy." At the time, investigators combed the scene, including the tire tracks of bobcats that loaded and unloaded the fertilizer and fertilizer that had been transported to a ball field at nearby Pacific Elementary School, for any leads.

Coleman said investigators believe Herrera did not have gang ties but did say he had a criminal record.

The Daily Breeze newspaper reported that Herrera was charged with possession of methamphetamine on May 23 at the Long Beach courthouse, according to Los Angeles County court records. Records also show Herrera was found guilty of auto theft, reckless driving, resisting arrest, possessing a car key without the owner's consent, and driving with a revoked or suspended license in January of 2011. 

Anyone with information should contact LASD's homicide division at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be given by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or texting TIPLA plus the tip to CRIMES (274637). Tips can also be left at lacrimestoppers.org.

• Previously: Body Found in Polliwog Park Identified as Long Beach Man
• Previously: Body Found Buried in Fertilizer Pile in Manhattan Beach Park