CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / LOS ALAMITOS

An autopsy shows that a Los Alamitos woman died of “unnatural causes” before being burned in an apartment fire, police said Thursday.

Emma Louise Hardwick-Street, 69, was found dead Monday after her apartment in the 3600 block of Farquhar Avenue caught fire. Police are looking for her grandson Joseph Elias George Ettima, 25, in connection with the case.

Ettima, whose last listed address was in Culver City, is described as black, about 5 feet 11 and 155 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes, and he usually wears glasses. As a parolee with a history of weapons violations, police consider him armed and dangerous.

Police did not disclose details of the autopsy or what has led them to believe Hardwick-Street’s death was a homicide.

An 8-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl who are thought to also be the woman’s grandchildren were inside the apartment and may have witnessed the alleged killing. They remain in protective custody.

-- Tony Barboza