San Luis Obispo Police Investigate Suspicious Death of Transient

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, San Luis Obispo Police Department received notification that there was a deceased person in a homeless encampment near San Luis Obispo Creek behind the Chevron at Calle Joaquin and Los Osos Valley Road.  

At the encampment, responding officers discovered a deceased person at an advanced stage of decomposition and secured the location. San Luis Obispo Police Detectives and San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office and Coroner assumed the investigation. 

Through fingerprint analysis, the body has been identified as Veronica Beatrice Baro, age 50, who was transient in San Luis Obispo.  

While the exact cause of Baro’s death is pending the results of the autopsy, the death is being considered suspicious and is being investigated as a possible homicide. This is an active investigation, and more information will be provided as it becomes available. 

If you have information regarding this case, please contact Detective Sergeant Evan Stradley at 805-594-8068 or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-7867. 

Suspicious Death
DATE OF INCIDENT: Thursday, February 12, 2026 
TYPE OF INCIDENT:  Suspicious Death 
PLACE OF OCCURRENCE: San Luis Obispo Creek, adjacent to Calle Joaquin at Los Osos Valley Road 
VICTIM: Veronica Beatrice Baro, age 50, transient of San Luis Obispo