Body Found Wrapped In Plastic In Yard Of Harbor Gateway Home; Woman Arrested
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A woman was arrested Wednesday after a body was found in the yard of a Los Angeles-area home.
The body was found around 9:50 a.m. in the 800 block of 173rd Street in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles, according to police.
A woman who was seen inside the home where the body was found was involved in a standoff with police before she was taken into custody.
She was led off in handcuffs. Her relationship to the victim was unknown. Wednesday night, officials said the woman was booked on a murder charge.
Neighbors told CBS2's Amy Johnson they theorized the man found in the yard was likely the homeowner -- who had not been seen for several days.
"He was a nice guy who always worked on cars," said one.
Another man said very much the same thing.
"He was a nice guy," said Andrew Nielsen, "he liked cars. He worked on cars all the time. He cared about his family. A respectful guy."
A neighbor also told her the man was wrapped in plastic, on a dolly, with a hole dug nearby.
One man who lived in the neighborhood for 24 years chose not to be identified.
"Some lady came by all hysterical saying 'They killed my friend,'" he said.
She had been trying to reach her friend, but instead found a woman in his backyard.
"She went back there and they were trying to bury him," the man said.
The LAPD is not sure what happened inside the house or the backyard.
"We're trying to determine what we have here," said Lt. Byron Roberts, "Someone is deceased. We are unable to determine at this time whether it's suicide, homicide, whatever the case may be."
Late Wednesday evening, KCAL9's Rachel Kim was told the victim had been shot. Paramedics declared the man dead at the scene.
Troy Jefferson is trying to make sense of why anyone would kill his neighbor.
"He was a good guy," Jefferson says, "friendly neighbor. [He would] speak. Just sad."
