PICO RIVERA — Coroner’s officials Saturday released the name of a 19-year-old Pico Rivera man found buried in a backyard earlier this week, and determined he was shot to death.
Joseph Rubalcaba was found buried in a shallow grave behind a home in the 8500 block of Pico Vista Road about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Lt. Larry Dietz said.
Following an autopsy Saturday, coroner’s investigators concluded that Rubalcaba died from a gunshot wound to the head, officials said.
Even before investigators excavated the remains from the ground or officially identified the victim, family members gathered near the scene said they believed they knew his identity. They could not be reached for comment Saturday.
According to the sheriff’s department, a loved one and acquaintances of a man went to the home on Pico Vista Road, where they knew the man to frequent, after he had gone missing for several days.
They went to the backyard of the home, where they discovered human remains buried in a shallow grave and called authorities, officials said.
Coroner’s officials removed the body from the ground Thursday afternoon. It was initially estimated that the body had been buried within the previous week.
Handling detectives could not be reached for comment.
No suspects in the slaying have been arrested or identified, sheriff’s officials said, and no possible motive was available.

PICO RIVERA — Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators have blocked coroner’s officials from releasing information regarding the discovery of a body buried in a Pico Rivera backyard earlier this week.
The identity, and any other information regarding the male body found about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 8500 block of Pico Vista Road, was not available Friday due to a “security hold” placed on the case by the sheriff’s department, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
According to sheriff’s Capt. Michael Parker, a loved one and acquaintances went to the home looking for a person who had been missing for several days.
They found a human remains buried in a shallow grave and called authorities, he said.
People at the scene Thursday who identified themselves as family members of the 19-year-old missing man said they strongly believed the body was his, though sheriff’s and coroner’s officials had not officially identified the remains.
It was unclear Friday whether the security hold prevented family members of the person found buried in the backyard from receiving official notification of his death.
Under a security hold, “We can’t give any information to anybody,” Winter said, including family members of the decedent.
Sheriff’s investigators, however, may notify the family members if they choose, Winter added.
The handling detective could not be reached for comment Friday.

PICO RIVERA — Sheriff’s investigators and coroner’s officials recovered a body Thursday that was found buried in a shallow grave in the backyard of a Pico Vista Road home, authorities said.
The body was initially described only as male, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said. His age, identity and cause of death all remained under investigation.
Deputies were called to the scene in the 8500 block of Pico Vista Road about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday after someone reported finding the body, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Capt. Michael Parker said.
“A loved one and acquaintances were looking for a person who hadn’t been seen for a few days,” Parker said. “When they got to the residence, where they knew the missing person frequents, they found human remains in the backyard and called sheriff’s deputies.”
Winter said that contrary to previous news reports, the body was not dismembered.
“The body is intact,” he said.
He said investigators estimated the body had been in the backyard for not more than a week, Winter said. It was fully clothed and buried in a shallow grave.
“I’m not going to make any other comments on the condition of the body, other than it’s not dismembered,” Winter said.
“The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Special Operations Response Team arrived and excavated the site (Thursday) and recovered an intact human body,” Parker said.
Detectives have interviewed several people, including those who found the body, Parker added. No suspects had been arrested or identified as of press time.
A group of distraught people gathered near the scene identified themselves as family members of the missing person, but declined to comment further.
A cadaver dog was brought to the scene to search for any possible additional remains, but none was found.
Longtime resident Betty Lounsberry, 74, said the neighborhood is usually very quiet.
“I’ve lived here some 50-odd years and it’s the quietest neighborhood you’d ever want to live in. I can’t believe it. It’s beyond my comprehension.”
Deputy Lillian Peck said anyone with information about the incident should contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Anonymous callers can phone Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or text the letters TIPLA to CRIMES (274637) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.