Leila Fowler Update: Knives found that may have been used in murder of 8-year-old, Calif. police say
(CBS) VALLEY SPRINGS, Calif. - Investigators in the murder case of 8-year-old Leila Fowler, who was found stabbed to death in her Valley Springs, Calif. home Saturday, say they have located knives that may have been used in the crime, CBS Sacramento reports.
"We have collected a few knives that are being examined to see if one of the knives might have been the weapon used against Leila," Calaveras County sheriff's Sgt. Chris Hewitt said.
Investigators also say they found fingerprints and other DNA evidence at the Fowler home.
Leila's body was discovered Saturday by her older brother who told deputies that he had encountered a male intruder in the home who then fled the scene. The community was placed on lockdown and authorities have been searching for the suspect ever since.
On Tuesday morning, police were summoned to an apartment in Placerville, about 45 miles from Valley Springs, after Jason Wryrynen, 44, allegedly tried to take a 15-month-old girl from her mother, The Sacramento Bee reported.
The mother was able to wrestle her daughter away and struggled with the man until officers arrived and arrested him.
Investigators took a DNA sample from Wryrynen Wednesday morning to see if he has any connection to Leila's murder.
Sgt. Hewitt told CBS Sacramento that although the department is following up on that angle, there is no "immediate evidence" to suggest that the two cases are related.
According to the station, police have not shown Wryrynen's picture to Leila's 12-year-old brother. Her brother described the suspect as a man about 6-feet tall with long gray hair.
The FBI has been briefed on the case and the Fowler investigation is ongoing.