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Residents pay respects to Trinity Love Jones, 9-year-old found slain near Hacienda Heights trail

by in News

They came singly or in pairs from different Southland communities. One brought a Bible. Two were accompanied by small children.

Drawn to a memorial comprised of candles, balloons, flowers and stuffed toys, they paid their respects Monday to 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones, whose body was found partly inside a duffel bag dumped near a Hacienda Heights trail last week.

La Habra residents John Magor and his wife, Nerisa, were among those who visited the temporary memorial on Hacienda Boulevard.

John Magor said he thinks whoever left Jones’ body at the site didn’t know the area.

“I bet he wasn’t here more than 20 seconds. He ran down here and left her. It’s disgusting. It’s evil,” Magor said. “This little girl got murdered. This poor little girl.”

Pastor Rick Tula and his wife, Pat, came from Corona. They grew up in Bassett and are familiar with Hacienda Heights. Rick Tula led several people in prayer at the memorial.

  • Trinity Love Jones, 9, was found slain in Hacienda Heights on March 5. Officials released her photo on Sunday when they disclosed her name. At left is an artist’s sketch of the then-unidentified girl released by investigators during a March 6 news conference. (Images courtesy Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)

  • Hacienda Heights resident Marilyn Layns pays her respects at a memorial for Trinity Love Jones, 9, at South Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Monday March 11, 2019. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

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  • A doll placed next to flowers and candles is pictured at a memorial for Trinity Love Jones, 9, at South Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Monday March 11, 2019. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

  • A memorial for Trinity Love Jones, 9, is pictured at South Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Monday March 11, 2019. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

  • Stuffed bears left by people at a memorial for Trinity Love Jones, 9, are pictured at South Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Monday March 11, 2019. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

  • A poster with images of Trinity Love Jones, 9, is pictured at a memorial for her on South Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Monday March 11, 2019. Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

  • A memorial for Trinity Love Jones, 9, is pictured at South Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Monday March 11, 2019. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

  • Cars drive by a memorial for Trinity Love Jones, 9, at South Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Monday March 11, 2019. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

  • Whittier resident Micheal Tamez and his daughter Emma, 3, pay their respects at the memorial for Trinity Love Jones, 9, at South Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, Calif. on Monday March 11, 2019. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

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“We came to pay our respects,” Pat Tula said. “She didn’t deserve that. She’s an innocent child.”

Like others who stopped by the memorial, Pat Tula asked why Jones remained unidentified as long as she did. She wondered what kind of life Jones had.

“We may not know her, but we have compassion for her,” she said. “Children are so innocent. As parents we are supposed to protect them.”

Jones was Jane Doe #11 until Sunday. when family members told the media who she was. Authorities confirmed her identity that night and announced that two people have been detained.

However, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide detectives remained tight-lipped about the case. They have not identified the two people detained, have not revealed the motive for the slaying and kept the coroner’s report under a security hold. Jones is only identified as a resident of Los Angeles County. The coroner has ruled the death a homicide but the cause of death has not been released.

Greg Risling, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, said Monday that a case has been presented to the DA’s Office “for filing consideration and it’s under review.” He declined to say who the alleged suspects are and referred the newspaper to the sheriff’s department.

Homicide detectives didn’t return calls. Jones’ family couldn’t be reached for comment on Monday.

Antonio Jones posted a short Facebook live video Sunday in which he identified his child. In the same video a woman’s voice can be heard telling him that a detective is on the phone asking that no one talk to the press because they haven’t completed their investigation.

“This is my daughter who was found in a suitcase. My daughter Trinity. She is the youngest of my three girls,” Antonio Jones said.

He posted late Sunday night on his Facebook page how he had not heard anything about a little girl’s body being found stuffed in a suitcase until Sunday morning but so many people have.

“This was my youngest daughter who i have been reaching out to only to have conflict. why whould (sic) you not take her to her dad instead of killing her,” he wrote.

On Monday morning, he wrote: “Rest in heaven pretty princess my Trin -Setta. Your Grand Pa @Jessie jolly is taking great care of you in heaven. he always wanted to meet you”

Before she was identified, Jones was given the name “Justice” by several people who held a vigil for her on Thursday, March 8. The name “Justice” still appears on the memorial.

Michael Tamez of Whittier, a father of two little girls, also dropped by the memorial on Hacienda Boulevard. He said he prays the family of Jones will get closure.

“It’s very sad to hear stories (like) this,” Tamez said while carrying his 3-year-old daughter, Emma. “I don’t mind coming over paying my respect.”