Homicide Report > No leads in case of nude teenager thrown from vehicle
No leads in case of nude teenager thrown from vehicle
Next to a poster-sized image of Edwinta Hereford — the 19-year old whose nude body was found alongside a Los Angeles-area freeway earlier this month — sheriff's homicide detectives gave an account Tuesday of her final days in the hopes of generating leads in a killing they said has left them puzzled.
Hereford's body was found about 5:40 a.m. May 16 on the shoulder of the eastbound 105 Freeway at Garfield Avenue in Paramount. A passerby "saw small feet" and pulled over to see if it was a child, according to Det. Phil Martinez, who is handling the investigation.
At first, detectives did not even know her name. She was found unclothed without any identification, other than a distinctive tattoo on her back that read: "Kenaya Faith Morgan."
Martinez said evidence suggested that her body was discovered within an hour of being thrown from a vehicle, but they had little else to go on.
Tips from the public and fingerprints led them to her identity, but the circumstances leading up to her killing remain unknown.
Hereford suffered massive blunt-force trauma, said Lt. Don Slawson, but had no sign of stab or gunshot wounds. The autopsy has been completed by the coroner's office, he said, but investigators are still waiting for additional lab tests to determine the exact cause of her death.
Among the questions unanswered: Was she killed before she was thrown from the vehicle? Was she unclothed when dumped? Where did she go in the hours after she was last seen by a store attendant at Snappy Liquor near Imperial Highway and Normandie Avenue in the Westmont area of unincorporated South Los Angeles?
Slawson said Hereford walked into the store alone about 11 a.m. on May 15 and tried to purchase some "female products." She did not have enough money, he said, and the store clerk reported that she left empty-handed.
At the time of her death, Hereford was living in Gardena with a male friend. She had been staying with him for a few days, Slawson said, going back and forth between his home and her mother's place in San Bernardino County.
Investigators said they do not believe the man Hereford was living with had anything to do with her killing.
After giving reporters gathered outside the Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide bureau in Commerce an account of Hereford's injuries, detectives asked her family to join them.
Monett Hereford, Edwinta's mother, described her daughter, the third of four children, as an outgoing "go-getter" who had dreams of becoming an attorney.
She said they last spoke on Mother's Day, six days before her daughter was killed. Asked what they talked about, Monett Hereford, who wept throughout the news conference, paused and said: "I don't want to talk about it."
Her daughter's tattoo, she said, was in honor of a stillborn daughter she gave birth to last year.
Although her daughter had an arrest for petty theft two years ago, Monett Hereford said that she had led a sheltered life and grew up in the church. Edwinta was taking a break from San Bernardino Valley College where she had been enrolled in general education and paralegal courses, her mother said.
"She was a wonderful daughter, sister, granddaughter. She had family members that loved her dearly," Monett Hereford said. "Whomever was involved, who knows what happened, please turn them in now. If they're capable of doing this to my daughter, they can do it to anyone."
Anyone with information about the death of Edwinta Hereford or the circumstances leading up to her death is asked to contact Det. Phil Martinez at the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Detectives said they believe Hereford was wearing blue skinny jeans and a white halter top with a red pattern down the side shortly before her death.
"Someone was out there, who knew what she was doing, who saw her from May 10 to the 15th. We want to talk to those people," Slawson said.
— Sarah Ardalani in Commerce
Photo: The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is asking for help from the public in solving the murder of Edwinta Hereford. Credit: Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/March 25, 2010
21 reader comments
Sounds like something a serial killer would do.
May 25, 2010 at 8:10 p.m.
First, my prayers for the young lady and her family. Second, my guess is LA has a serial killer. Research, serial killers hide their victims, while others put them for the world to see. I hope I am wrong but I don't think so. I don't believe anyone but a serial killer that wants attention would dump a naked girl in plain site.
May 25, 2010 at 10:31 p.m.
My personal opinion is that it is a serial killer for who ever it was they wanted somebody to find her and on top of that naked. I dont know if any one else remembers that theres has been some murders of african american females left on streets and set on fire they were all around the same age teenagers makes you wonder and the other ones of pieces of bodys found in defferent places parks,schools in plain view its a sick world out there but the police and media cover it up and people are out there not knowing and they become the next victims. God blessed you and rest in peace Edwinta Hereford. I hope the sick person or persons get caught soon.
May 26, 2010 at 3:35 a.m.
I believe Edwinta is in a better place. The way she died is very trajic and sad to know that someone will do such a thing to this young lady. My prayers goes out to this young girls family i know she is in a better place with her baby girl finally reunited mother and child!!! God bless
May 26, 2010 at 7:58 p.m.
Funny you guys say that because thats the first thing that came to mind.. a serial killer
May 26, 2010 at 11 p.m.
Same here. I thught that it could have been a serial killer as well. Its interesting alot of people are thinking that. I wasnt going to post a comment but seeing others have the same vibe as I made me do so
May 27, 2010 at 11:48 a.m.
damn, iWas on the freeway ths morining, &&i was wondering why traffic was SO heavy tht sunday after-noon!, SMH . and then i see police vehicles and thought it was an car accident, but when i got close enough to see what really happened i saw her body lifeless, it was really something tragic and devastating to see, prayers and much love go out to the Hereford family and there big lost. May G0D bring forth the animal who did ths!
May 28, 2010 at 1:36 p.m.
common now. this is LA. Serial Killa. What is your definition of a serial killa? I thing LA is the capitol for serial killas(all serial killas are not sexual predators).
May 30, 2010 at 4:30 a.m.
Check out the guy she was living with!!!
May 30, 2010 at 9:22 p.m.
I heard they kidnapped her from Snappys on Normandie & Imperial.......
May 30, 2010 at 9:36 p.m.
Since you say you "I heard they kidnapped her from Snappys on Normandie &Imperial" did you tell Detective Phillip Martinez about what you are saying what you heard?
May 31, 2010 at 2:33 p.m.
edwinta did not deserve this. if it was our family member , yall wouldn't stop at nothing to find who did this. keep ur ears and eyes open. you may get information in the least likely time or place... rip edwinta.. bigg huggs for the familia!!!!<3
June 2, 2010 at 6:06 p.m.
look into the harbr freeway incident and in san deigo..all crimes are similar.
PLEASE,NO ONE DESERVES THIS..
June 8, 2010 at 10:32 p.m.
Edwinta, I pray that we will find your killer. Even though I know you wouldn't want us stressing so much but the way you used to back me up in high school I can only stop and wonder who did this to you and back your family up in finding the killer! Rest In Peace...
June 10, 2010 at 9:50 p.m.
Where is her clothes that she had on? Does the killer still have them? Why is the autopsy not released yet? I know they said there was a "Security Hold" on the Autopsy report but, it has almost been a month now.....
June 18, 2010 at 9:59 p.m.
I dont feel as if this was a serial killing, this is simply Los Angeles, where ruthless, cold hearted, non God fearing people live. Very sad and tradject. May God be with her and the devil with her killer(s).
June 22, 2010 at 10:55 a.m.
My thoughts are that she may have been the last victim of the grim sleeper. That Snappy Liquor is less than 3 miles away from the home of the killer
July 9, 2010 at 11:06 a.m.
omfg that cud bee soo true..ii was thiinkiin she cud bee a victim of that siick f*** tha "grim sleeper" ii miss her so much..everytiime iim home alone @ niite ii thiink of her an who cud have diid thiis 2 her...liife goes on..iitz almost bn 2mnths buh ii wont bee comfortable till they find who diid thiss 2 her...she use 2 live around the corner 4rm me n hemet...smh :( she's so missed an loved...riip mommii...ily gurl...GOD will deal with whomever diid thiss 2 yu...
July 16, 2010 at 1:12 p.m.
Sadly, I feel that this young lady shouldn't have been in South Central, she should've been in San Bernardino with her mother, pursuing her education and dreams of being an attorney. Sometimes the street life is so seductive that young people are pulled away from habitually doing "square" things to better themselves in life. Snappy Liquors is no place for this young lady to be let alone at that time. I am heartbroken for her family and especially her mother. May God Bless and Protect your family, we are all prayiing for you, and to the scumbag who did this... Everyone knows what happens to you tough guys in prison.
Nov. 17, 2010 at 11:37 a.m.
Who ever did this is a sick ass I hope he or she burns in hell its been a year and some change still no justice smh may god be with her family
Jan. 15, 2012 at 7:51 p.m.
Any connection to Michelle Lozano?
Jan. 20, 2012 at 12:45 p.m.
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