Two months after the brutal kidnapping and death of 3-week-old Eliza De La Cruz, officials released sketches of a man and woman wanted in connection with her slaying.
The abduction of Eliza De La Cruz and the shootings of her family members occurred about 5:50 p.m. Jan. 3 at the family's home in the 100 block of West 51st Street. The infant's body was found the following afternoon in a trash bin at a commercial strip mall in the 600 block of Palm Drive in Imperial
Beach.
On Jan. 3, at about 4:15 p.m. a woman approached Eliza’s mother as she got off a bus near Del Amo and Long Beach boulevards, police said.
That woman was described as African-American, in her 40s, heavy set, and with long, dark curly hair. She was wearing a pair of dark designer sunglasses and driving a black SUV with dark rims.
Surveillance video shows a black SUV matching the description given by the newborn’s mother trailing a bus at about the same time.
The woman stopped and asked Eliza’s mother about the baby, police said. They spoke briefly before her mother continued walking home.
Less than two hours later, Eliza’s family was violently attacked in their Long Beach home.
Local
A man described as dark-skinned Hispanic or black forced his way in the family’s home in the 100 block of 51st Street, shooting Eliza’s parents and uncle before running off with the baby.
Southern Californians were rattled by the brutal assault and kidnapping of the newborn. A 24-hour manhunt ensued for the baby while her family was treated at a hospital for their injuries.
Eliza’s lifeless body was found over 100 miles south in a dumpster in Imperial Beach by a transient who was looking for cans on Jan. 4.
Based on three surveillance videos from where Eliza’s mother exited the bus, officials believe the SUV is a 2006 to 2011 Range Rover with large black rims. The videos were also forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for enhancement.
A $25,000 reward was announced in January for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in Eliza’s death.
Anyone with information is asked to call 562-570-7244.
