The Trial: Unpacking the Jon Aujay Disappearance and Darren Hager's Lawsuit

Darren Hager's Dismissal and Lawsuit

• 🏅 Darren Hager received numerous awards for his work on Operation Silent Thunder, but faced opposition from the LASD, including an order not to attend a DEA award ceremony.
• 💔 Hager was fired from the LASD, which he believed was a deliberate dismantling due to his investigation into fellow deputy Rick Engles and alleged departmental corruption.
• ⚖️ He filed a lawsuit against the LA County Sheriff's Department for wrongful termination, a case that lasted nearly a decade and brought internal LASD documents into public record.

Investigation into Jon Aujay's Disappearance

• 🕵️‍♀️ The LASD's Internal Affairs Bureau interviewed Detective Joe Holmes regarding the Jon Aujay case, focusing on discrediting Hager's investigation.
• 🧪 Holmes' investigation into meth dealer Tom Hinkle, a key figure, was criticized for its lack of thoroughness, including a malfunctioning tape player and a questionable polygraph result.
• ❓ Holmes also conducted a lenient interview with Deputy Rick Engles, whom informants linked to Aujay's disappearance and meth labs, despite Engles's questionable alibi and past associations.

Corruption and Cover-ups within LASD

• 🚨 The lawsuit revealed that the LASD was forced to turn over extensive files related to the Aujay case, including recorded interviews.
• 🚫 Informants' claims about Aujay stumbling upon a meth lab and being murdered were dismissed by Holmes, who seemed to protect Engles and Hinkle.
• 🏛️ The episode draws parallels to past LASD scandals like the Rampart scandal and the "Big Spender" scandal, highlighting a history of corruption and cover-ups.
• 👥 The reign of Sheriff Lee Baca is mentioned, characterized by a philosophy of protecting the department above all else and the rise of deputy gangs.

Trial Proceedings and Outcome

• 🧑‍⚖️ During Hager's trial, his attorney presented evidence suggesting he was fired for exposing wrongdoing, while the department claimed the wrongdoing was fabricated.
• 🗣️ Deputy Rick Engles testified, revealing inconsistencies with Detective Holmes's account of his alibi and his own questionable actions, such as not responding to a vehicle fire in his jurisdiction.
• 🏆 After a lengthy trial, a jury awarded Darren Hager $4.5 million in damages, vindicating his claim that he was fired for doing his job.
• 📉 The county appealed, and Hager's payout was reduced, but he felt he had proven his point about corruption within the sheriff's department.

Lingering Questions and Future Implications

• ❓ Despite Hager's victory, the LASD has not officially closed the Aujay case, and Deputy Engles remains in his position.
• ⚠️ The episode concludes by hinting at further suspicious deaths in the Devil's Punchbowl area, including incidents involving Deputy Engles's gun, suggesting the story is far from over.