World

Authorities say 8-year-old girl killed herself in Mexican border city

/ AP

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - Mexico's National Human Rights Commission says it has opened an investigation into the death of an 8-year-old girl who authorities say committed suicide at a shelter in the border city of Ciudad Juarez.

The commission says the girl was traveling with a migrant smuggler who planned to take her to her parents in the United States when federal authorities arrested the smuggler.

Federal officials turned the girl over to Chihuahua state authorities who placed her at a private shelter instead of one run by the state's child protective services.

State prosecutors say the girl hanged herself last week inside a bathroom at "La Esperanza" shelter and that there was no foul play.

The commission said in a Monday statement that authorities are still trying to locate the girl's family.

First published on March 17, 2014 / 9:24 PM EDT

AP

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