U.S. Assistant Attorney Found Dead in San Diego Federal Office: ‘He Was a Beacon of Light’

Forty-eight-year-old U.S. Assistant Attorney Andrew Haden was found dead Wednesday in a federal building in San Diego, California.

Police discovered his body inside an office at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building and have since said they do not suspect foul play, the New York Post reported Friday, noting he had been reported missing hours before the discovery.

In a statement, Southern District U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said it was “one of the darkest days in our office’s history, but there was nothing dark about Andrew Haden’s life. He was a beacon of light — full of laughter, friendship, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to serving our community,” he added. “We will honor his life and legacy by carrying his light forward, today and always.”

Haden was a nationally recognized trial advocacy instructor who joined the Southern District of California in 2010, according to the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

The site reads:

He has prosecuted cases in a variety of subject matter areas, including violent crime, racketeering, drug trafficking, immigration offenses, child exploitation, cyberstalking, and firearms offenses. During that time, Andrew has conducted more than two dozen jury trials.

…

Andrew received his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and his B.A. from Stanford University. Prior to law school, Andrew served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy for five years; which included two overseas deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Joint Task Force Liberia.

“Prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys all paid tribute to Haden following his death,” the article stated. “Southern District of California Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant told the Union-Tribune that his death is a ‘loss for everyone,’ describing him as ‘well loved and well respected.’”