Home » Santa Clarita News » Detectives Seek Help In IDing Body Found In Angeles Nat’l Forest

Detectives Seek Help In IDing Body Found In Angeles Nat’l Forest

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives are asking for the public’s help regarding information about the discovery of a body off San Francisquito Canyon Road, according to a statement released Sunday.


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UPDATE 4/11/13 2:38 p.m.
A body found last night in Angeles National Forest on Wednesday night is believed to be a 30- to 40-year-old Hispanic woman, according to Coroner’s Office investigators.

An autopsy has not yet been completed, and officials have not made next-of-kin notification, so the identity of the woman has not been released.

UPDATE 4/10/13 11:12 p.m.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau responded to San Francisquito Canyon Road, five miles south of Spunky Canyon Road, in the Angeles National Forest, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery of dead body.

“At approximately 4:45 this afternoon, Department of Water and Power workers summoned deputies from  Santa Clarita (Valley) Sheriff’s Station,” said Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the Homicide Bureau.

The DWP employees were working on a tower just west of the road when they noticed a “foul” smell, Hernandez said.

“They looked around and eventually they saw a body inside of a tarp or a bag approximately 20 feet away from the road,” he said.

The body looked like it had been dumped at the location, which is why detectives are investigating it as a “suspicious death,” he said.

Deputies were able to confirm that it was a human body inside of the bag because there were legs visisble, he said.

Crime scene investigators are not allowed to disturb the body, only Coroner’s Office officials could move the body, Hernandez said, adding they would be called after investigators were done collecting evidence.

Once coroner’s officials arrive, they will be able to determine whether the body is a man or woman, and an autopsy would likely be needed to determine exactly how long the body had been there.

Hernandez said the smell indicated that the body was probably there for several hours.

There were no active missing persons investigations from the surrounding area, and Hernandez said Sheriff’s Department officials are asking for the public’s help in solving the case.

“Anyone who has information about the body or what happened is asked to call the Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500,” he said.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website.

ORIGINAL STORY 4/10/13 9:17 p.m.
Detectives from the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau are responding to San Francisquito Canyon Road, five miles south of Spunky Canyon Road, Angeles National Forest, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery of dead body.

The body was reported at 5:45 p.m., according to officials with the Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s Department officials did not know whether the body was a man or a woman.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

Detectives currently are investigating the scene. There is no further information at this time, officials said.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website.


Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, Or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com


Detectives Seek Help In IDing Body Found In Angeles Nat’l Forest

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About Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a print and broadcast journalist who has won several awards for his focused, hyperlocal community coverage in several different regions of the country. In addition to five years of experience covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Smith, a San Fernando Valley native, has worked in newspapers and news websites in Los Angeles, the Northwest, the Central Valley and the South, before coming to KHTS in 2012. To contact Smith, email him at Perry@hometownstation.com.