A veteran Justice Department prosecutor who led the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California was discovered dead inside a San Diego federal building Wednesday evening, hours after being reported missing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden, 48, was found at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building at 880 Front Street in downtown San Diego, which houses the Southern District’s offices. San Diego police received a missing-person report late Wednesday and subsequently located Haden inside an office at the building.
Police investigators responded to the scene and preliminary findings uncovered no signs of criminal involvement. “Out of an abundance of caution, SDPD investigators responded to the scene, and no foul play is suspected,” a police spokesperson said. The San Diego County Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Career and Leadership
Haden joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in 2010 and spent more than 15 years as a federal prosecutor. He held several senior leadership positions, including chief of the Violent Crimes and Human Trafficking Section and chief of the Criminal Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden Found Dead in Calif. Office After Being Reported Missing https://t.co/hxlFRk7EDs
— People (@people) August 21, 2026
He served as the office’s first assistant U.S. attorney, making him the second-ranking official in the district. Haden rose to acting U.S. attorney on two separate occasions during 2023 and 2025, each time serving approximately two months during leadership transitions.
Before his legal career, Haden served five years in the U.S. Navy with two overseas deployments supporting Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Joint Task Force Liberia. He later attended the University of San Diego School of Law and clerked for U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Whelan.
Tributes from the Legal Community
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon described Haden’s death as “one of the darkest days in our office’s history.” Gordon said, “He was a beacon of light – full of laughter, friendship, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to serving our community.”
Southern District of California Chief Judge Cynthia Bashant called his death a “loss for everyone” and described Haden as “well loved and well respected.” Defense attorney Jeremy Warren, who frequently opposed Haden in federal court, emphasized their enduring friendship. “The fact that we remained friends throughout is a testament to the type of guy he was,” Warren said, describing the death as “a huge blow to the entire federal community in San Diego.”
Gordon declined to provide additional details surrounding Haden’s death out of respect for his family.
This story has been updated. CNN’s San Diego Bureau contributed to this report.
