Cops: Girl Killed by “Someone” Not “Something”

An autopsy revealed that Elizabeth Holloway died from blunt force trauma

Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a nine-year-old girl in Mountain View.

Officers received a report of a non-breathing child at a home in the 300 block of Milbrae Street on Monday. The family told police they noticed Elizabeth Holloway, 9, did not appear to be breathing and had “sort of a fixed look in her eyes.”

"She had her daughter in her arms and she was telling me to come here. When I went out there she laid her daughter in the doorway and her daughter was just passed out,” said Lajahnique Webster.

Webster called her mother who rushed to their aid.

“I was just giving her CPR and she just wasn't waking up," said neighbor Sagirah Means. "Just like cold and turning blue and purple. She was just lifeless and I just wanted to save her."

Officers and paramedics arrived on scene.

"I was screaming, I was crying, they kept telling me to move back," said Means.

Elizabeth was transported to Rady Children’s Hospital, where she died at 11:56 p.m.

“As is customary in child death cases, detectives from the department's Child Abuse Unit conducted a preliminary investigation,” said Lt. Rooney.

An autopsy revealed that the girl died from blunt force trauma, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

“The case has been classified as a homicide,” said Lt. Rooney. "We haven't drawn any conclusions as to who inflicted this force."

Elizabeth’s 25-year-old mother and her mother’s 27-year-old boyfriend were home when officers were called to the scene. It’s not yet clear when the girl received the injuries that led to her death.

"At this point it appears to be from a someone, not a something," said Lt. Rooney.

The girl’s siblings, a 1-year-old and 7-year-old, were taken by Child Protective Services.

George Long, a Community Service Officer at Emerson/Bandini Elementary School says Elizabeth started out the school year at Emerson/Bandini Elementary but has attended two other schools since then.

"Elia, as we knew her by, was just a bubbling, outgoing, very beautiful, charismatic student.  She would meet me at the gate every morning and always had a smile, always glad to be here," said Long.

He called the news “gut wrenching.”

"Home is supposed to be the safest place that these kids are,” Long said. “It breaks my heart that this happens and I do hope for her sake and her family's sake that whoever is responsible for this is brought to justice and quickly.”

No arrests have been made.

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