Overview

• The 19-year-old custodian was found trapped in a meat grinder at Tina’s Burritos facility around 9:30 p.m. Sunday and was pronounced dead at the scene.
• The Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatched first responders at 9:24 p.m. and crews arrived three minutes later.
• Vernon Police and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health launched coordinated investigations and have found no evidence of foul play.
• Officials are interviewing coworkers who witnessed the aftermath to identify potential safety lapses, including failures in lockout-tagout procedures.
• The incident highlights persistent machinery safety gaps in California food processing plants and renews pressure for stricter equipment safeguards and employee training.