(L.A.) Zachary Symons-Rogers, 24, Died in a Vehicle

Case Number: 2023-13793

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 24-year-old Black male that occurred in a vehicle.

The coroner’s office has identified the young man as Zachary Symonsrogers.

STATUS: The decedent’s body has been released. Ruling by the deputy medical examiner is deferred pending additional investigation.

Manner and cause of death will be added to this page when it becomes available.

If the DME has ordered drug screening, the next public update may take three to six months.

RIP ZACHARY ZAMANI SYMONS-ROGERS (July 4, 1999 – October 10, 2023)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Tuesday at 4:06 p.m.

Daddy & Papa is a 2002 documentary film made by Johnny Symons. It explores same-sex parenting as seen in the lives of four families headed by male couples. The film also examines the legal, social, and political challenges faced by gay parents and their children.

Filmmaker Symons and his partner William Rogers, along with their adopted son, Zachary, were one of the four families featured in the film.

Daddy & Papa was shown nationwide in the U.S. on PBS in the spring of 2003 as part of its Independent Lens series.

The highly acclaimed documentary won numerous awards, including:

• Emmy Award nomination, Best Documentary
• Official selection, Sundance Film Festival
• Golden Gate Award, Best First Person Documentary, San Francisco International Film Festival