Montecito Heights Residents On Edge After 2 Young Women Found Dead In Park
MONTECITO HEIGHTS (CBSLA.com) — Concerned Montecito Heights residents packed a community meeting space on Tuesday to ask police for details regarding the two young women who were found dead in Earnest E. Debs Regional Park last week.
The gruesome discovery of the bodies on Oct. 28 by a woman walking her dog has deeply unsettled the community.
"I don't even feel safe now walking around my neighborhood like I normally did," community member Karla Legaspy said.
The coroner's office identified one victim as Gabriela Calzada, 19, and friends identified the second victim as Briana Gallegos, 17.
Police said the young women appeared to have been beaten but not sexually assaulted. Detectives said the bodies had not been in the park very long before they were discovered.
On Tuesday night, police attempted to quell some of the residents' uneasiness and dispel rumors.
For example, LAPD Capt. Martin Baeza said police do not believe the deaths were related to a suspect who flashed women in the park last year and brandished a knife at one woman.
"One of the things that I want to put to rest is some of the rumors that I'm hearing from the community," Baeza said.
Police have also increased their presence at the park.
"I feel a little more safe knowing that his putting more rangers up there," community member Jayme Chutan said.
The LAPD said about 40 detectives are working on the case.
The communty will hold a vigil Thursday for the dead teenagers.