San Diego

Daughter Finds Mother Dead in National City Home, Homicide Investigation Launched: PD

A homicide investigation is underway after a daughter found her elderly mother dead in her National City apartment Saturday morning, National City Police said. 

The daughter first called police at approximately 5:58 a.m. Saturday when she found her mother, identified as 92-year-old Maria Rivera, dead inside the apartment on D Avenue, police said. 

When officers began investigating, they determined the home had been burglarized prior to the death. 

Officers have released a composite sketch of a man they say was spotted near Rivera's home in the early hours Saturday.

Carlo Coronel, who lives in the aprtment below Rivera's, told NBC 7 that the 92-year old had been his baby-sitter when he was five, six-years old.

"This is inhuman. This is evil. This is not supposed to be happening,” Coronel said.

Others in the apartment complex also said they have always had Rivera in their lives.

β€œShe was a really helpful woman. She was nice to everybody," Alex Garcia said. "She was always there to talk to--I bonded with her when I was little."

The suspect is described as an adult man approximately 30 to 40 years old, approximately 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin build and light to medium complexion. He has very short black hair. 

An investigation is underway. Anyone with information is asked to contact the National City Police Department at (619) 336-4411. 

No other information was immediately available.

Contact Us