Little Girl Discovers Remains Of Dismembered Newborn In Westmont

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities are asking for the public's help after the remains of a dismembered newborn were found in an unincorporated area of South Los Angeles.

The remains of a baby believed to have been between one to three days old were found in the backyard of a home in the 1500 block of W. 104th Street in Westmont.

As KCAL9's Erica Nochlin reports, a homeowner alerted authorities about 10 a.m. Saturday after a 9-year-old girl made the initial discovery.

"The dog was sniffing the ball. I thought it was sniffing the ball so I was going to get the ball and I got it. I saw the legs. I just ran to my mom and told her what I saw," Britany Plascencia, a neighbor, said.

Britany said the newborn's remains were in two places both near their fence in the backyard.

Investigators said the infant was dismembered and are still searching for certain "significant portions."

"The infant appears to have been dismembered. Significant portions of the body are still missing," Lt. Victor Lewandowski of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Late Saturday, authorities asked the public to search area trash cans and yards and want to speak with any females who were recently pregnant but are no longer.

"Detectives would like to speak with any females who were recently pregnant, are no longer pregnant, and that the baby is absent," the lieutenant said during a news conference.

"Police approached and they asked me had I seen any suspicious packages around my neighborhood and I said 'No' and they wanted to check my dumpsters," Joanne Dandridge, another neighbor, said. "You don't want to hear of anyone's death but a baby, an innocent child, you know, I can't understand it."

An investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information was asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau Detectives Adan Torres or Francis X. Hardiman at (323) 890-5500 or "Crime Stoppers" at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).