Truck found with body matches description of Palmdale homicide suspect's vehicle

PALMDALE, Calif. (KABC) -- A truck that matches the description of one belonging to a Palmdale triple-murder suspect has been found with a body in a remote area of Lancaster.

The silver Toyota was found near Avenue G and 250th Street East on Sunday, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's officials.

Officials confirmed a death investigation was underway at the scene after a body was discovered in or near the truck. A description of the deceased person was not immediately available.

Officials would not confirm if the truck was the 2002 silver Toyota Tacoma pickup that is believed to be the vehicle being driven by 54-year-old James "Todd" Brown, but they said the vehicle matched the general description.

Authorities named Brown as a suspect in the homicides of Richard Gardner II, 78, his wife Pepper Gardner, 56, and his son Richard Gardner III, 52, who were all found dead inside their Palmdale home in the 1100 block of Avenue N-12 on Jan. 13.

Detectives believe that a disagreement may have led the man to suffocate, stab and kill all three family members.

They also believe Brown may have even killed the family's dogs before fleeing in his pickup, which has a camper shell on the back and California license plate #42198C1.

Brown was someone the family knew for almost two years. He rented a trailer in the back of the family's property while performing odd jobs for them.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.