CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / LOS ANGELES
The 4-year-old boy who police believe was killed by his mother in Highland Park was identified Monday as Lars Sanchez, according to the Los Angeles County coroner.
The mother, who has not been identified, allegedly used a large kitchen knife Saturday morning to kill her son inside a home in the 300 block of Vista Place. Then, according to police officials, she killed herself.
The coroner said Lars died from “sharp force trauma to neck.” He turned 4 three days before the killing.
LAPD Capt. Bill Murphy described the scene as one of the most brutal he had seen. Murphy declined to discuss a possible motive in the apparent murder-suicide. He said police would contact the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services to determine if there had been a history of abuse or neglect.
-- Ari B. Bloomkatz
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