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A manhunt is underway in Northern California after an 8-year-old girl was found stabbed to death after an apparent home invasion.
Residents in Valley Springs, Calif., a town 60 miles southeast of Sacramento, were warned to lock their doors and be on high alert for any suspicious activity after the stabbing on Saturday.
The victim was identified today as 8-year-old Leila Fowler, Calaveras County Coroner Kevin Raggio told ABCNews.com.
Raggio confirmed Fowler had been stabbed, but declined to elaborate regarding her injuries.
On Saturday, Fowler and her 12-year-old brother were home alone in separate rooms when the boy told police an intruder entered the home, ABC News’ Sacramento affiliate KXTV reported.
The 12-year-old called his parents, who alerted sheriff’s deputies. However, after the intruder fled, the boy found his 8-year-old sister with severe injuries, according to KXTV. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Multiple law enforcement agencies were searching the area for the suspect on Sunday. Authorities said the man, who is described as 6-feet-tall with a muscular build, should be considered armed and dangerous.
Authorities are also asking for any information on anyone who may have left town unexpectedly after the crime or has unexplained injuries, according to an alert on the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office website.
Anyone with information is asked to contact a tip line at 209-754-6030.
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Bet it was the 12yr old.
Posted by: Just Sayin | April 28, 2013, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
Why are a 12 year old and an 8 year old home alone?
Posted by: cv | April 28, 2013, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
@CV…it’s perfectly legal for a 12 year old to babysit during daytime hours. As long as they are twelve or older, it is a parent’s judgment call as to whether or not they want to leave a child alone for a few hours during the day. A young child was just stabbed to death, and this is the only thing you are concerned with?
Posted by: Sherri | April 28, 2013, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
Good, now the POLICE are armed and dangerous. The way it OUGHT to be when hunting down vicious animals.
Posted by: Joe NYer | April 28, 2013, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm
@JUST SAYIN,,i thought the same thing,,,but the nieghbor seen the man running from the house,,,
Posted by: David | April 28, 2013, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
If you have a description of the suspect, six feet tall and muscular, why conceal the remainder of the description? Is he white with red hair? Say so. Is he black or Hispanic? Does Political Correctness now forbid mentioning such matters?
Posted by: jim | April 28, 2013, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm
My sympathies to the parents of the murdered girl. I can’t help wondering how that intruder happened to pick that one house and why he chose to kill the girl (who probably screamed or called for her brother when she saw him) rather than both children or simply run when he saw the house was occupied.
Posted by: MyTake | April 29, 2013, 12:55 am 12:55 am
Condolences to the family. I have to assume this happened at nite. Personally, I’d would NEVER leave a 12 yr old in charge. Guess money was too tight for a qualified sitter. Pay me now or pay me later. The intruder knew how to get in. Neighbor, relative, freind? Did he case the house first? many unanswered questions. We’ll just wait and see.
Posted by: doc63 | April 29, 2013, 8:53 am 8:53 am
Just so very sad. There are too many psychopaths that walk among us.
Posted by: wgerp226 | April 29, 2013, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
The suspect is believed to be white or Hispanic. The area has mostly a white population, with very few African Americans living in the area.
Posted by: Alehandro | April 29, 2013, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm