Pine Valley
A homicide victim whose body was found June 23 along Sunrise Highway in Pine Valley has been identified as Donna Marie Gentile, 22, a convicted prostitute who had publicly maintained she had sex with a San Diego police officer in exchange for favors, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.
The police officer, Larry Avreck, was fired Jan. 15 from the San Diego Police Department after a department investigation which determined that he had engaged in improper conduct with the prostitute.
A second police officer, Lt. Carl Black, was demoted to sergeant because he had intervened on Gentile’s behalf by contacting a probation officer and helping pay her legal expenses.
The Sheriff’s Department said it has no leads in the homicide investigation. Gentile was strangled, the coroner’s office said.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.