Tioni Theus: LA County increases reward in death of teen whose body was dumped on side of 110 Freeway

Reward now $120,000 in Tioni Theus case

A cumulative $120,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the shooting death of 16-year-old Tioni Theus, whose body was dumped along the side of the 110 Freeway.

LOS ANGELES - The county Board of Supervisors Tuesday increased its reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the shooting death of a 16-year-old girl whose body was dumped alongside the Harbor 110 Freeway in South Los Angeles.

The county previously offered $10,000 for information in the January killing of Tioni Theus, while the state and city of Los Angeles each put up $50,000.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to bump up its portion of the reward to $20,000.

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The cumulative total for the reward now stands at $120,000.

Tioni's body was discovered Jan. 8 on the side of the freeway on the Manchester Avenue on-ramp near South Figueroa Street.

Tioni was last seen Jan. 7 after telling a family member she was going to meet a friend to go to a party, officials said.

According to Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell's motion to extend and increase the county's reward offer, Tioni "lived in Compton and was a student at Centennial High School. She was reportedly living with her father as her mother recovered from a serious hit-and-run accident. Family members say she was a straight-A student and enjoyed dance and golf.

Tioni Theus: Murdered teen to be laid to rest

Tioni Theus will be laid to rest as the search continues for her killer.

"Investigators are urging anyone with information about this incident to contact the California Highway Patrol. A reward will encourage members of the public to come forward with information that can help identify the individual(s) responsible for her death."

Speaking with community activists at a news conference earlier this year, Rashida Kincy, a cousin of Tioni, described her as a "vibrant young lady that was just cut from so much that was ahead of her."

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"This has been a tragedy to my family, to the community," she said.

The CHP asked anyone with information about her killing to call the agency at 323-644-9557. Anonymous tips can also be made at 888-412-7463.

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