Reward Offered in Robbery That Led to Woman’s Death
Officials on Wednesday announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man wanted for robbing and holding captive an 11-year-old girl and her grandmother, who died from suffocation.
The gunman confronted the girl around 11:30 a.m. Sunday outside her El Segundo house in the 1500 block of East Mariposa Avenue and ordered her into the home, authorities said.
Using duct tape, he bound and gagged the girl and 57-year-old Mary Shoupe and left them in the bathroom while he ransacked the house, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Bruce Thomas said.
The girl freed herself and called 911. Shoupe was found dead from suffocation.
At a news conference at City Hall Wednesday morning, El Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon urged anyone with information about the crime to step forward. He also requested contributions for a fund to support the girl.
City officials said Shoupe had acted as a parent to the girl since the child’s father died of cancer five months ago.
Anyone with information on the incident was urged call the Sheriff’s Department homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500 or the El Segundo Police Department at (310) 322-9114.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
