Sister in emotional tribute to woman, 19, kidnapped and killed in random attack
The sister of a woman kidnapped and killed in random attack has spoken of her heartbreak.
The sibling of Andrea Vazquez, the 19-year-old California woman found dead in field after being reported missing following a shooting, has shared an emotional tribute after receiving the devastating news.
Edlyn Vazquez described the teenager as a "beautiful angel" and said the family's pain is indescribable.
Her family were told about the discovery of Andrea's body on Tuesday morn+ing, which was found in an open field in Moreno Valley after being abducted and shot while in her boyfriend's car at a park near Los Angeles.
Her sister wrote on social media, alongside a picture of her beloved sister: "My beautiful angel, I'm completely destroyed. Word's cannot describe this pain. I love you with all my heart and soul. Until we meet again my beautiful baby. R.I.P"
Teen 'kept as slave, starved and beaten' sues adoptive parents and authoritiesAnother person added in tribute: "Right now there is no comfort or words to show our feeling, know that my dear Andrea is resting in peace and now she enjoys the presence of God". Andrea was a fashion design student at Fullerton College and also worked at a mall in Cerritos.
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Whitter Police Department say that they have arrested 20-year-old Gabriel Esparza as the main suspect in the case and charged him with murder and kidnapping. Police have called this a random killing.
Her body was discovered not far from where her phone last pinged and her family found traces of blood, after having gone missing after a shooting incident at Penn Park in Whittier, California. Investigators say that the boyfriend fled the gunfire and when he returned to the vehicle he “discovered blood” near by and Andrea gone.
Whitter Police Department said in a statement: "At this time, it appears that Andrea Vazquez and her male companion were randomly targeted by the suspect at Penn Park." Recovered items in the investigation so far include a weapon and the suspect’s vehicle, a 2013 White Toyota Tacoma truck.
Moses Castillo, a former LAPD detective said: “This is not the outcome [the family] wanted.Their pain and grief is beyond description."
Just a day before they were delivered tragic news of Vazquez’s death, her family and community members had gathered at Penn Park, where the teen was kidnapped, to hold a vigil for her safe return.
“I’ve never experienced a heartbreak like this,” Vazquez’s sister Edlyn Vazquez told KTLA on Monday. “I’m just trying to stay strong for her because I know she’ll be back.”
Police said Esparza, a Whittier resident, was arrested at his job on Monday in the city of Lakewood. He has since been booked into the Whittier Police Department and is being held without bail.
The case will be turned over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Whittier is about 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
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