$25,000 Reward Offered In Hunt For Long Beach Infant's Killer
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a $25,000 reward in the search for the killer of a 3-week-old infant.
The body of Eliza De La Cruz was found Sunday afternoon in an Imperial Beach dumpster, just one day after she was kidnapped from her home in Long Beach.
De La Cruz was discovered missing after officers responded to a shots fired call just before 6 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of West 51st Street.
The child's mother, father and uncle were suffering from gunshot wounds and were transported to a hospital where the baby's mother and uncle remain in critical but stable condition. Her father was treated and released.
The San Diego County Coroner's Office performed an autopsy on the infant Monday; however, the cause of death has not been released.
"The normal is $10,000. This is so horrific, we're going to start at $25,000," Supervisor Don Knabe said. "To see a situation where three people are very badly attacked and then to just snatch a 3-week-old baby and throw it away to die is just terrible."
A motive for the crimes has yet to be determined, but detectives believe the incident was not random.
"We need to get the coward who committed this violent, senseless act off the street, but we absolutely need the public's help to do this," LBPD Chief Robert Luna said.
Meanwhile, detectives hope to have a composite sketch of the suspect, described as an Hispanic or black man, by the end of the week.
Mothers, grandmothers and daughters paid their respects Tuesday night outside of the family's Long Beach home.
"I just had to see for myself," said Lwanda Hawkins, who drove from South Los Angeles, pleading for any witnesses to come forward.
"There is no way that no one heard and I know people are scared and sometimes reluctant. But this is a 3-week-old baby. You've got to stand up and say something. If you ain't never said nothing, this is the time," she said.
Anyone with information should contact the LBPD at (562) 570-7244. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), text TIPLA plus the tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
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