Man found dead in parked California van had criminal history
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. — A homeless man found dead with three others in a parked van outside a Southern California strip mall had a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for conspiracy to murder and child abuse, authorities said Saturday.
Phunyouphone Kanyavong, a woman believed to be his girlfriend and their two young children were found dead in their pyjamas Thursday night inside a van with blankets covering the windows in the city of Garden Grove, police said.
The cause of their deaths is under investigation, but with no signs of obvious trauma, police Lt. Carl Whitney said authorities suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.
The children appeared to be less than 2 years old and were still in diapers, Whitney said. Authorities said they believe they know the identities of the three who died with Kanyavong but will not release their names until they are confirmed through DNA and fingerprints.