Allison Quan January 7th, 2017 - 3:12 PM
The music video director of indie acts such as Ariel Pink and Nite Jewel, Travis Peterson, was missing ever since December 29th of last year. Unfortunately last night, Peterson was found dead in a parked car in La Canada Flintridge, CA. The body has officially been identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office as Travis Peterson. The director was found in a Volvo in a parking garage off Foothill Boulevard near a Sports Chalet store. At this time the sheriff’s department reports that there are no obvious signs of foul play at this time, but further investigation is underway.
Peterson had been missing since December 29th when his wife Emilie Halpern filed a missing persons report after being unable to reach her husband since his last message around 2 pm that day. A credit card charge on a joint account with his wife along with security camera footage confirmed that he was last at a 76 gas station in La Canada Flintridge.
Halpern posted an update via Instagram this morning stating that Travis has been found and thanking everyone who shared information and searched for him in which he was found because of his friends.
Peterson was known for directing music videos for Los Angele’s indie rock scene for artists such as Ariel Pink, Glass Candy, Vivian Girls, and Nite Jewel. He amplified the careers of many of these acts by adding a handmade quality behind the work of the artists. Recently, the filmmaker worked on a freelance contract for BBC News as a cameraman and editor covering the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.
UPDATE (1/8): According to the LA Times, sheriff’s deputies have confirmed that Peterson’s death was a suicide.
