Slain Tenant, Man in Trunk Are Identified

Authorities released the names Wednesday of victims of a slaying in Lancaster and a possible slaying in Pacoima.

Eugene Rufus Newbern, 41, was identified as the Lancaster tenant killed Monday during a dispute with his landlord, who has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Newbern, a ranch hand who was renting a room from Alvan Adams in the 3300 block of East Avenue K-4, died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities say Adams had been trying to evict Newbern.

In a separate case, Genaro Perez, 27, of Northridge, was identified by authorities as the man found dead in the trunk of a car in Pacoima on Tuesday night.

Perez was found in a gray Ford Contour parked in the 14200 block of Chamberlain Street, said Det. Frank Bishop of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

Because there were no signs of trauma on Perez’s body, investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine if it is a murder, Bishop said.