Sketches Released Of Suspects Accused In Kidnapping, Murder Of Long Beach Infant
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Police released sketches Wednesday of two suspects who are suspected in the kidnapping and murder of a 3-week-old infant.
According to the Long Beach Police Department, officers were sent around 5:50 p.m. Jan. 3 to a home located in the 100 block of West 51st Street, for report of a shooting.
When they arrived to the scene, authorities located three adults suffering from gunshot injuries, and learned a female infant, Eliza De La Cruz, was kidnapped from the home.
The following day, De La Cruz was found dead inside a trash dumpster in Imperial Beach.
On Jan. 6, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established a $25,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects accused in the death of De La Cruz.
Surveillance video revealed the female victim carried De La Cruz off of a bus on Jan. 3 around 4:15 p.m., located at Del Amo Boulevard and Long Beach Boulevard.
Officers learned during a preliminary investigation that the female driver of a black SUV with large black rims -- believed to be a 2006 to 2011 Range Rover -- pulled up next to her, and asked about the infant while she walked home.
Detectives described the driver as an African American woman around 40-years-old, that has long dark curly black hair, a heavy set build, and wore a pair of black designer sunglasses on her head.
Later that day, a male suspect -- described as either a dark-skinned Hispanic of African American man -- allegedly forced his way into the victim's home, shot the three adults and kidnapped the baby, police said.
CBS2's Amy Johnson said the three adults survived and were only recently well enough to talk to police about the hours leaving up to the shooting and kidnapping.
"Once they were released from the hospital, and we learned that the mother and baby Eliza had taken a bus that day they were able to give us more detailed accounts," Cox explained.
Further investigation of surveillance video from the bus company determined that the SUV followed the bus while the victim and De La Cruz were on board.
Long Beach Police Lt. Lloyd Cox said officers were surprised to see the female's involvement.
"But after watching the video, from the bus company and what we released, it is clear that that female and that Range Rover were definitely involved," Cox said.
Police said the license plate of the vehicle was not identifiable on the SUV. The original surveillance video has been forwarded to the FBI in Washington, D.C. for enhancement, officers added.
In an effort to identify the suspects, officers obtained a list of all Range Rovers registered in the Southern California area, and are contacting owners who match the description of the suspect vehicle.
A connection between the victims and the suspects remains unknown.
Police have still not said how the baby was murdered but did say it left them all changed.
"When you see a 3-week-old helpless child, who is innocent, get murdered in that fashion, it's very difficult, and we all want to see this thing through, and detectives have been working pretty much seven says a week, they are committed to finding the people who did this," Cox said.
Anyone who is able to identify the alleged suspects or vehicle is urged to call Long Beach Homicide Detectives at (562) 570-7244.