Lanier found dead in Tijuana apartment

The Rev. Charles Lanier, 51, pastor and founder of Unity Fellowship  Church in the City Heights section of San Diego was found dead in a  Tijuana apartment Wednesday night. Lanier had been reported missing  since last week.
Police authorities report that Lanier died from an  overdose of heroin.  A source at the Baja California Attorney Generals  office, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that a syringe was  found near Laniers body.
Baja California law enforcement officials  said Lanier had been renting an apartment in Tijuana with another man,  also a U. S. citizen, since November 2007. Neighbors passing Laniers  third-floor unit in Tijuana saw the door ajar and Lanier lying face-up  on the floor about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police are searching for  Laniers roommate.
A church member described Lanier as a recovered  drug addict who openly spoke about his previous drug abuse.
Lanier  told friends two weeks ago that he was going to the local Albertsons  supermarket. But, when he failed to return, friends and associates began  to worry and called police.  Family and friends told police it would  not be in character for Lanier to take an extended trip and not let  anyone know where he was going and when he was going to return.
Laniers  black 2007 Cadillac CTS was found on February 22  in a San Ysidro  parking lot, just north of the Baja California border. It is an area  mostly used by visitors to Mexico.
The popular pastor was supposed to  host a barbecue last Saturday.
Rommel Moreno Manjarrez, the Baja  California Attorney General said Thursday that an autopsy conducted by  the Baja California Medical Examiners Office determined that Rev.  Charles Laniers cause of death was a drug overdose.
The death of  Lanier, who was also the chief financial officer for the Minority Aids  Project in Los Angeles, shocked friends of the Los Angeles branch of  Unity Fellowship Church as well as his friends and co-workers at MAP.
He  was a strong leader at the Minority Aids Project and he worked very  closely with his church and community, said executive assistant Rev.  Russell Thornhill, who had known Lanier for 11 years. Whether clients  or parishioners were dealing with addiction or health issues, Lanier was  available.  He was a wonderful pastor, a wonderful leader and a very  strong community activist, said Thornhill. He gave his life for that  work and for people who were homeless, hungry, and broken and he went  into the community and served people living with HIV/AIDS.
Thornhill  said that Lanier founded the San Diego branch of Unity Fellowship  Church about five years ago. Unity Fellowship was founded for people of  all races, ethnicities, and sexual identities.
Lanier is survived by  his mother, three sisters, nieces and nephews in Los Angeles. A  memorial service is being planned.