- Andrew Haden, former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California, was found dead in the downtown San Diego federal building that houses the prosecutors’ office, officials confirmed Friday.
- Haden was reported missing late Wednesday evening, and San Diego police responded to a missing persons call, discovering him deceased in an office at 880 Front St.
- No foul play is suspected in Haden's death, according to authorities.
- The county Medical Examiner's Office will determine the official cause of death.
- Haden first joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2010 and served as acting U.S. attorney for the office after being selected to fill vacancies in 2023 and 2025.
- He briefly ran the office in 2025 after the firing of U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath, a Biden appointee.
Andrew Haden, 48, was discovered deceased in the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building on Wednesday after being reported missing. San Diego police responded to a call and confirmed that no foul play is suspected. Haden served as acting U.S. attorney twice, in 2023 and 2025, and was a respected figure in the legal community.12356
“This is one of the darkest days in our office’s history, but there was nothing dark about Andrew Haden’s life,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. He described Haden as “a beacon of light—full of laughter, friendship, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to serving our community.”
Haden, a San Diego native, joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2010 and worked there for 16 years. He was a graduate of Stanford University and the University of San Diego School of Law, and served five years as a U.S. Navy officer. His death has left a significant impact on the local legal community.
“Andrew was always friendly with a kind word to say, which makes news of his passing all the more difficult,” said Scott C. Carr, executive director of the San Diego County Bar Association. “Our legal community lost a good one.”
Defense attorney Jeremy Warren called Haden's death “a huge blow to the entire federal community in San Diego,” emphasizing their friendship despite courtroom rivalries.
“Haden, 48, had served as acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California twice, filling vacancies in 2023 and 2025. He was reported missing before police found him deceased in an office at 880 Front St., and the county Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.”
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