The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has identified the young, Black girl found dead in a duffel bag near an Hacienda Heights hiking trail as 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones.
According to KTLA, investigators have also detained two persons of interest in connection to the case, although their identities have not been released and the sheriff’s department declines to give further details.
Trinity’s body was found partially stuffed inside a duffel bag on Tuesday by county workers who were doing maintenance on an equestrian trail in the area. The discovery shocked the community as investigators worked to identify the child.
The sheriff’s department noted in its press release that the coroner’s office has determined Trinity’s cause of death to be a homicide, although they declined to specifically discuss how she died.
“Although the Coroner’s Office determined the death to be a homicide, the cause of death is being withheld,” Deputy Tracey Koerner wrote in the press release. “As additional facts are established and verified, investigators anticipate that additional information will be available for release during a press conference later in the week.”
Meanwhile, a large memorial where her body was found has been erected and continued to grow on Monday, with people dropping off candles, flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and photos to remember the young child.
Trinity’s father, Antonio Jones, told
KTLA that he learned of his youngest daughter’s death through a phone call.
“Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now,” he said. “I just want answers. I just want justice.”
“She was just the best,” the grieving father added. “Full of character, full of life, full of joy.”
Jones’ declined to comment on whether he had custody of his daughter, or who she had been staying with.
The police are still encouraging anyone with information to step forward and contact the department’s homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
