Body found near Laurel Canyon Park identified as fashion designer

A body found on a remote trail near Laurel Canyon Park has been identified as the founder of a punk-Goth clothing company, authorities said Tuesday.

Drew Bernstein, 51, of Los Angeles died from an apparent suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Bernstein, also known as “Lippy,” founded Lip Service in 1985, directing its fashion toward Gothic, punk, rock and fetish world.

In a message posted Tuesday on Lip Service’s Facebook page, the company representatives wrote, “Yesterday we lost our founder and dearest friend, Drew (aka Lippy). He was a good man who inspired everyone around him and there are not enough words to express how deeply he was loved and will be missed.”

Linda Judy-Pugh wrote in message on Facebook that she and Drew started the company from their garages by making screen prints.

Firefighters found Bernstein’s body about 8:45 a.m. Monday near the 8300 block of Mulholland Drive, about a five-minute hike from the road.

Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Dave Cueto said Monday afternoon the person died of an apparent self-inflicted wound to the chest.

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