Possible Key Evidence in Boy’s Slaying Found

A newly discovered concrete block that may contain part of a 12-year-old boy’s body is a key piece of evidence that police say they simply overlooked during a search of a La Habra neighborhood last year.

Forensic experts determined Monday that the concrete block--believed to contain the pelvic remains of Juan Delgado--was dumped behind an abandoned nursing home a year ago, said La Habra Police Sgt. Jeff Love.

Neighbors spotted the block at the Walnut Care Center on Saturday and called police. The discovery ignited speculation in the area that the concrete block was recently placed at the site by a second person who might have been involved in the slaying and dismembering of Delgado.

One suspect, John Samuel Ghobrial, 28, has been in custody awaiting trial on charges that he sexually assaulted and then killed the sixth-grader. Ghobrial was arrested last year shortly after six concrete blocks containing other parts of Delgado’s body were found near Ghobrial’s home, which is two blocks away from the nursing home.

Police on Monday sought to calm neighborhood fears that a possible killer is at large.

“We are not looking at other suspects, but we are not closing our minds to accomplices,” Love said. “I don’t want the community to be alarmed for no reason. I do believe that the crime scene was so large, I think we just missed it.”

The Orange County coroner’s office is scheduled to examine the remains today. A source close to the investigation said that if the part turns out to be the pelvis, the only part of Delgado’s body still missing, it could provide evidence of a sexual assault.

That would help prosecutors, who must prove that Delgado was sexually assaulted before being killed in order to seek the death penalty. Ghobrial’s trial is expected to begin next January.