The British sister of a U.S. army veteran who was found dead in the back of a car in California has said his killers deserve to rot ‘in the sewers of hell’.
The body of Adrian Bonar, 34, was discovered wrapped in tarpaulin in the trunk of an abandoned Lexus which Anaheim police officers were about to tow away.
Bonar, the son of Scottish restaurant millionaire Brian Bonar, had served in Iraq and mystery surrounds his death some 75 miles away from the city of Escondido where he lived.
The Stars and Stripes were draped over his coffin at a celebration of his life on Friday with a murder probe hanging over the ceremony.
Tribute: Pauline Gourdie praised her brother Adrian Bonar (pictured together) and said his killers deserved to rot in the ‘sewers of hell’ after his body was found in the back of a car
Mourning: The Stars and Stripes are draped over the coffin at a memorial ceremony for Adrian Bonar which was held on Friday, more than a week after he was found dead
Discovery: Anaheim police officers found the body wrapped in tarpaulin as they were preparing to tow the car away
The victim’s sister, Pauline Gourdie, wrote in a tribute online that Adrian Bonar’s life had been cut short by ‘evil scum’.
‘My heart is breaking, yet bursting with pride that you were my brother. It’s clear you were not only loved by your family but by so many whose life you touched,’ she said.
‘You were taken too soon but did you live it. So proud of all that you achieved in your life, cut short by evil scum.
‘May you soar with the eagles in heaven while they squawk in the sewers of hell! Until we meet again. Sleep tight lil bro. Your heartbroken sis, P.’
The 34-year-old, who lived in Escondido around 75 miles away from where he was found dead, had served in the U.S. Army in Iraq.
According to reports in Scotland, Bonar’s mother Linda Green travelled to the U.S. for a celebration of her son’s life last week.
Memories: A framed montage of photos of Adrian Bonar which was displayed at a memorial service for the former soldier on Friday
Adrian Bonar (right), the son of Scottish restaurant millionaire Brian Bonar (left), had served in Iraq and mystery surrounds his death some 75 miles away from where he lived
Mourners were shown a picture of Bonar in full Highland dress and wore thistles in a tribute to his Scottish background.
In addition, the Stars and Stripes were draped over his coffin in recognition of his military service.
A friend reached by DailyMail.com last week said he had ‘no clue’ who would want to harm Bonar.
‘He was just an awesome guy. Someone who you wanted to be around with,’ Gustavo Dias, told DailyMail.com.
Dias, 32, who lives in Florida, said Bonar was married with children and said he had served in Iraq with him in 2007 and 2008. Both were honorably discharged.
‘He was an outstanding soldier,’ said Dias of Bonar. ‘I got so many , of him being silly in Iraq trying to make everyone laugh.’
Bonar (right) is pictured with his fellow soldier Gustavo Dias during a field training in Fort Steward, Georgia. They served together in Iraq
Adrian Darren Bonar, 34, of Escondido, was found in the trunk of a Lexis by California Highway Patrol officers who were about to tow the car (pictured) from a dirt lot
The above map shows that Bonar’s body was found about 75 miles from where he lives in Esconido, California
A grief stricken Dias had posted on his Facebook page about the loss of his fellow veteran.
‘Today I got the news that I lost one of my comrades to a senseless murder,’ he wrote on Saturday.
‘He survived Iraq but not the people whom he swore to protect. Rest In Peace’.
Kim Shaffer, who also posted on Facebook about Bonar’s death, said his body was found at the end of a street where her church is located, ‘where the lighted cross on the hill is located off the 91 freeway’.
‘Many of us are grieved for the family,’ Shaffer wrote. ‘If anyone knows how we at Kindred Community Church can minister to them, please contact me and let me know.’
Anaheim police said Bonar was ‘known to frequent motels in North San Diego County and Los Angeles County’ as they appealed for information.
Detectives said they had found a ‘suspicious object’ wrapped in a tarp after they were called to the abandoned vehicle 12 days ago.
The object proved to be ‘a similar size and shape of a human body’ and the vehicle was towed to the coroner’s office for examination.
Police later revealed Bonar’s identity and urged anyone who had seen or had contact with him in the weeks before his death to call (+1) 714 321 3669.