Girl Encased in Concrete Died of Overdose

An 8-year-old girl whose body was found encased in concrete in South-Central Los Angeles died of a drug and alcohol overdose, authorities said Thursday.

The cause of Latoya Harris’ death was described in an autopsy report given to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office just before a preliminary hearing for two of the child’s relatives.

The child’s aunt, Maddie L. Moore, 43, and her son, Maurice Nathaniel Moore, 21, each have been charged with one count of murder in the case. After the autopsy was released, their preliminary hearing was rescheduled for Oct. 7.

They remain in custody in lieu of $1 million bail each.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jane Blissert said the autopsy results were not expected--authorities had believed the girl died of asphyxiation. She declined further comment.

The girl had lived with Maddie Moore and her four children for four years, authorities said. Maurice Moore did not live in the home.

Responding to a tip, Los Angeles police found the girl’s body July 27 in a concrete-filled trash can behind a home on East 47th Street.

At the time of the discovery, Detective Eric Campos said she had been dead a week. Someone had poured concrete into the bottom of the plastic 30-gallon trash can, placed Latoya inside and poured more concrete on top, Campos said.

Police said they discovered the body after an informant told them that it could be found in the trash can under an avocado tree in Moore’s back yard. After officers started chipping away at the concrete, a piece of clothing appeared and they discovered the dead girl.