Body Found On 118 Freeway On-Ramp Identified

MISSION HILLS, CA — Authorities Thursday identified a 59-year-old man whose body was found on the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway onramp this week. California Highway Patrol homicide investigators are asking for witnesses to come forward.

The slain man was James Anthony Swist, who was found alongside the freeway onramp shortly before the start of the morning rush hour Tuesday, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County coroner's office. His body was found on the embankment adjacent to the Sepulveda Boulevard on-ramp to the eastbound Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway, according to the CHP. His death is being considered a homicide. However, a CHP spokesperson declined to publicly say how the man was killed.

"Due to the initial investigation by LAPD, the incident was determined to be a homicide that occurred on state property," according to a CHP statement. "The deceased is an adult male in his 50s. Due to the nature of the crime, the homicide will be handled by the CHP's Major Crimes Unit."

On Thursday, the man was identified by the Los Angeles County coroner's office but his city of residence was not known. An autopsy was pending to determine his cause of death, according to the coroner's office.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to contact the CHP's Southern Division Major Crimes Unit at 323-644-9550 9557 or the Los Angeles Communication Center at 323-259-3200.

City News Service contributed to this report.