Andrew Haden, the 48-year-old federal prosecutor who twice stepped in as acting U.S. attorney in San Diego, was found dead inside the federal courthouse where he spent 16 years of his career, and police say no foul play is suspected.
Haden's body was discovered Wednesday inside an office at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in downtown San Diego, the building that houses the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California. He had been reported missing earlier that day. San Diego police responded and, after investigating the scene, ruled out criminal activity.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office is working to determine the official cause and manner of death, Newsmax reported. Sources familiar with the case told the New York Post that Haden died by suicide. An investigation remains ongoing.
A California native and Navy veteran with two overseas deployments, Haden earned his law degree from the University of San Diego and joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2010. He served there for 16 years, building a reputation as a widely respected federal prosecutor who led major criminal cases.
Haden twice filled the top job on an acting basis, first from August to October 2023, and again from February to April 2025, Fox News Digital reported. The second appointment came after President Donald Trump selected Haden to run the office following the firing of U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath, a Biden appointee.
Current U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, who now leads the Southern District office, called Haden's death one of the worst moments in the office's history. But Gordon made clear that the man himself was defined by something far different from the manner of his passing.
Gordon told Fox News Digital:
"This is one of the darkest days in our office's history, but there was nothing dark about Andrew Haden's life. He was a beacon of light, full of laughter, friendship, integrity and an unwavering commitment to serving our community. We will honor his life and legacy by carrying his light forward, today and always."
Scott C. Carr, executive director of the San Diego County Bar Association, said he was devastated by the news. Carr recalled speaking with Haden during the most recent government shutdown about the impact on employees in his office, and how Haden was working to support his team any way he could.
Carr said in a statement:
"Andrew was always friendly with a kind word to say, which makes news of his passing all the more difficult. My thoughts are with his family and his colleagues at the Southern District of California. Our legal community lost a good one."
Defense attorney Jeremy Warren, who had faced off against Haden in previous courtroom battles, called his death "a huge blow to the entire federal community in San Diego." Warren noted that despite their adversarial professional roles, the two had remained friends, which, Warren said, spoke to the kind of person Haden was.
An SDPD spokesperson confirmed the department's response to the scene. "Out of an abundance of caution, SDPD investigators responded to the scene, and no foul play is suspected," the department stated.
Police have not disclosed who filed the missing-person report or when it was filed relative to the discovery of Haden's body. It is also unclear whether Haden was still serving in any acting capacity at the time of his death or had returned to his regular role as an assistant U.S. attorney.
The medical examiner has not yet released an official finding on cause or manner of death. Whether any federal agency, such as the FBI, is involved in the investigation alongside SDPD, given that the death occurred inside a federal building, has not been addressed publicly.
Haden spent his adult life in service, first to the Navy, then to the Justice Department. He was 48 years old. The people who worked alongside him and the people who squared off against him in court said the same thing: he was one of the good ones. That ought to count for something, and by every account, it did.
