(L.A.) Fariba Vassei, 40, Died at a Residence

Case Number: 2004-07215

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 40-year-old “Middle Eastern” female that occurred at her residence.

The coroner’s office has identified the woman as Fariba Vassei of Montebello, California. Her name appears to be Persian / Iranian.

Manner of Death: Homicide

Cause of Death: Multiple Blunt Force Trauma

RIP FARIBA VASSEI (September 1, 1964 – September 23, 2004)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Thursday at 8:56 a.m.

The decedent was killed by her boyfriend Sergio Moran who was also the father of their child. They were separated at the time of her death.

Moran was convicted by a jury of first degree murder with the finding that the murder was intentional and involved the infliction of torture.

The incident location was 2507 1/2 West Madison Avenue, Montebello, CA 90640. It was where the decedent and their six-year-old son lived. She was found dead in a bedroom.\

Doctor Stephen Scholtz was the forensic pathologist serving as a deputy medical examiner with the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. He performed the autopsy on Fariba Vassei. She suffered multiple blunt force injuries, which caused her death. The injuries were particularly noticeable on her head and face. She had ligature marks on her wrist and ankles, indicating that she had been bound. Vassei sustained a fractured skull, caused by a forceful blow or blows, and visible injuries to her brain. She had fractured ribs and injuries to her liver and small bowel mesentery, which caused internal bleeding. She also had pinpoint hemorrhages on her eyelid, bruising and bleeding in the area of her voice box, and a fractured bone near her larynx. Doctor Scholtz opined Vassei was manually strangled. She had a number of bruises on her hands and arms, consistent with defensive wounds. All of her injuries were inflicted prior to her death. There was evidence that the injuries to Vassei’s ribs could have been inflicted several hours before the other injuries.

Before her death, there were documented incidences of domestic violence during which the decedent had been seriously hit, even beaten, by Moran. Police had been called for those incidences.