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Woman, 62, Fatally Stabbed Near USC Campus

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities continued Tuesday to investigate the stabbing death of a 62-year-old woman who was robbed near the USC campus.

Maria Elena Rivas of Los Angeles was stabbed in the back near the intersection of Adams Boulevard and Catalina Avenue while walking home from a grocery store.

Security video from inside a Ralphs supermarket showed Rivas before the stabbing.

Detectives say the victim had stopped by the store after taking the bus from work.

As she walked home, detectives say, Rivas was robbed and stabbed.

Paramedics arrived and took Rivas to the hospital, where she later died.

The incident unfolded about 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Misael Contreras, the victim's nephew, said: "We're at the bottom of the floor right now. She was like our right hand.

"It's just a senseless crime. If she would have died of old age or sickness, we'd understand, but not like this," Contreras said.

Anyone with more information about this case was asked to call South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide investigators at (213) 485-4341.

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