MERCED COUNTY — The California Highway Patrol is investigating a homicide after officers discovered a deceased man in the trunk of a vehicle Thursday afternoon along State Route 152, a major corridor connecting the Central Valley and the Central Coast.
CHP officials said the Merced Communications Center received a report at about 12:19 p.m. of a missing person believed to be somewhere on SR 152 east of Lower Cottonwood Road, a rural stretch of highway between Los Banos and the Pacheco Pass. Officers from the CHP Los Banos Area and deputies from the Merced County Sheriff’s Office responded and located a white Tesla sedan on the roadside. Inside the trunk, they found an unidentified Hispanic male who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The CHP has not publicly released the victim’s name. However, family members identified him on a GoFundMe page as Javier Becerril Jr., describing him as a father, devoted son, caring brother and cherished cousin. “He had a kind heart, a generous spirit, and was always willing to help those he loved,” the family wrote. They said they received the devastating news Thursday and are raising funds for funeral and memorial expenses and to support his children.
“Rest in peace, Javier Becerril Jr. You will always be loved, forever missed, and never forgotten,” the post reads.
CHP requested assistance from its Central Division Major Crimes Unit, which handles homicide investigations occurring on state highways or involving vehicles. Detectives spent several hours processing the scene, and traffic in the area was slowed as officers worked around the vehicle.
Authorities have not released additional details, including how long the vehicle had been stopped or whether investigators believe the homicide occurred at the location or elsewhere. The Merced County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death.
Homicide investigations on SR 152 are rare, though the highway sees heavy daily traffic from commuters, truck drivers and agricultural workers. The area east of Lower Cottonwood Road is sparsely populated, with long stretches of roadway and limited services, making unusual incidents highly visible to passing motorists.
The investigation remains active. CHP asks anyone with information to contact the Central Division Major Crimes Unit at (559) 603‑7740 during normal business hours.
