Missing Teen's Body Found in Calif. Landfill, Ends 3-Month Search
FONTANA, Calif. (AP) The remains of pregnant teenager Anyssia Escamilla were found in a Southern California landfill Thursday after months of searching, authorities said. The 17-year-old disappeared in May and shortly afterward her boyfriend, Jesus Avitia Jr. was charged with her death.
Authorities aided by dogs covered two landfills before finding the body in a dump in Corona, Calif. police said.
Escamilla, the mother of a 3-year-old son from another relationship, was reported missing on May 11 when she failed to return home from Bloomington High School, about 20 miles from where her remains were found.
Police said her boyfriend, 18-year-old Avitia Jr., told detectives he killed Escamilla and placed her body in a trash can near his home. Her body apparently was never seen by trash-truck drivers who use a robotic arm to empty cans.
Avitia has pleaded not guilty to murdering the girl and her 3-month-old fetus. The charges carry a special-circumstance allegation of multiple murder that could make him eligible for the death penalty.
Detectives did not know how Escamilla was killed because Avitia gave conflicting statements, police said.
Investigators also were trying to determine a motive.
Escamilla's family said Avitia's family didn't approve of him seeing a girl who already had a child. Her parents said the two had been dating for about a year.