Torching Case Brings Calls, but No ID

Sheriff’s detectives received some panicked phone calls over the weekend as families with missing relatives reacted to last week’s brutal slaying of a still-unidentified female in unincorporated Whittier.

The victim, believed to have been an African American in her late teens to early 30s, was apparently burned to death in the predawn hours Friday.

Firefighters discovered the charred body after extinguishing burning shrubbery outside a machine shop on the 10700 block of Inez Avenue.

A neighbor told detectives he heard a “blood-curdling scream” for help at about 4 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials said.

Homicide Det. Chris Brackpool said the department has received more than a dozen calls from people who fear that the victim is a missing relative.

Investigators are looking for a man, 30 to 40 years old, who fled the crime scene in a 1984 or 1985 white and blue Chevy Silverado.

An autopsy Saturday indicated that the victim was about 5 foot 2 and weighed 130 pounds. She had braided hair pulled back with a green and white bandanna and was wearing a plaid flannel shirt with red, blue, green and white stripes, blue jeans and socks, but no shoes.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at (323) 890-5500.