Update (March 11, 2019): Less than a week after discovering the body of a young girl inside of a duffel bag near a Buddhist temple, California police have identified the child as 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones.
Trinity’s father Antonio spoke with KTLA 5 following the revelation and expressed that he and his family want answers regarding her disappearance. Per the news site, he learned of his youngest daughter’s killing over the phone.
It’s unclear whether Trinity was reported missing before her death.
“Words can't explain what I'm feeling right now,” Antonio lamented. “I just want answers. I just want justice.”
Officials are still searching for a motive behind her death, but a statement from the LA County Sheriff's Department says two persons of interests have been named in the open probe.
“Investigators have detained two persons of interest in this case and they are actively continuing their investigation," said Deputy Tracey Koerner of the Sheriff's Information Bureau on Sunday.
As the inquiry continues, the New York Post writes an autopsy is scheduled to be completed within the next several days. Authorities are still classifying Trinity’s death as a homicide.
The LA County Sheriff's Department has already received a multitude of tips, but anyone with information regarding Trinity’s death is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can also be directed to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Original: California police are working to identify the body of a child found in a large duffel bag Tuesday morning.
CNN reports the young girl was found deceased dressed in panda-print loungewear pants and a pink long-sleeve shirt reading, "Future Princess Hero." The Los Angeles County Police Department released sketches of the girl, her clothes and the bag in hopes someone with information about the girl will come forward.
The unidentified child is believed to have been between the ages of 8 and 13, weighed approximately 55 pounds and was 4 feet 5 inches tall.
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“It is a suspicious-death investigation," said Lieutenant Scott Hoglund of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. "There were no obvious signs of trauma. We don’t have any idea who this child is.”
The Los Angeles Times reports the girl's body was found only 120 yards from the entrance to the popular Hacienda Heights walking trail. Investigators are uncertain if the child was dead or alive when she was placed in the suitcase.
Authorities are asking anyone who was near the trail between Sunday and Tuesday morning to report any suspicious activity they might have witnessed. Investigators speculate the child was left in the area late Sunday evening; her body was found Tuesday.
An autopsy is to be administered in the coming days. Hoglund refused to answer questions regarding any additional facts of the case, including whether DNA was uncovered on the duffel bag. Investigators also sealed records from the coroner's office on Wednesday.
Officials have determined the unidentified body does not belong to Skylar Mannie, a 13-year-old Black girl who went missing in Los Angeles on Valentine's Day according to FOX LA. Mannie stands at 5 feet 5 inches tall and is 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
"It's a sad moment for the department, for the community, and we're going to do our best to figure out what led to the suspicious death of the child involved,'' said Sheriff Alex Villanueva. "I've directed the investigators to spare no effort to find out what happened."
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