A 39-year-old man was sentenced today to 25 years to life in state prison after he was convicted of murder in connection with the killing of a man whose body was found in a car trunk, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

On March 23, a jury found Andy Yalau Chen of Baldwin Park guilty of two felony counts in case GA098556: first-degree murder and cultivating marijuana.

Deputy District Attorney Kevin Keeland, who prosecuted the case, said on March 21, 2016, a Monterey Park resident called authorities to report a foul odor coming from a parked vehicle near her home.

When police arrived at the location, they found an unlocked car, the prosecutor said. Police discovered the decomposing body of Chinese national Min Gu in the trunk of the vehicle. The victim had been shot twice, the prosecutor added.

Authorities began an investigation into the homicide and learned that the defendant had been one of the last people in contact with Gu while he was still alive, according to the prosecutor.

Law enforcement obtained a warrant to search one of Chen's homes in Temple City and when they went to the location, they found Gu's blood under the floorboards of the house and two bullet casings, the prosecutor added. Additionally, law enforcement discovered Chen was growing marijuana in the house.

According to witness testimony during the jury trial, prior to the murder the victim had threatened to expose Chen's marijuana grow operation if Chen did not return money that he had borrowed.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Los Angeles District Attorney / case GA098556 / April 24, 2018