Homicide detectives need help identifying child found dead near hiking trail in Hacienda Heights

HACIENDA HEIGHTS, Calif. (FOX 11) - Homicide detectives are asking for the public's help identifying a child whose body was discovered inside a duffle bag along a hiking trail in Hacienda Heights.

The child's body was discovered by county workers around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday near South Hacienda Boulevard and Glenmark Drive, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. Her body was discovered partially inside a black, rolling duffle bag at the bottom of an embankment, Lt. Scott Hoglund said during a press conference Wednesday.

"Her upper torso and head were protruding from the open bag," Lt. Hoglund said.

Investigators believe the remains were left at that location within 24 hours of being found and that the child died roughly 48 hours before her body was discovered.

Homicide detectives believe the girl was between 8-13 years old, roughly 4-feet 5-inches tall and weighed approximately 55 pounds. The child was wearing a pink long-sleeve top with the words "Future Princess Hero" and gray pants with pandas on them when her body was found.

At this point, the case is being investigated as a suspicious death. Authorities said that investigators did not find any signs of trauma to the victim's body. An autopsy will be conducted in the upcoming days to determine an official cause of death.

Detectives have reached out to local school districts, missing child organizations and the county Department of Children's Services to try to determine her identity, Lt. Hoglund said.

Investigators have no leads and no motive at this time.

"We don't have any motive. We don't have any reason for why this happened, or how this happened. And that's the purpose for being here today -- to get the public's assistance and hopefully identify the victim so our investigators can head down that path," Lt. Hoglund said during the press conference.

Investigators are asking the public to report anything suspicious they may have seen on or near Hacienda Boulevard prior to when the child's body was discovered.

LASD confirmed that the deceased child is not 13-year-old Skylar Mannie, who was reported missing out of Lancaster on Feb. 14, shutting down rumors that had been circulating on social media.

Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.