A missing 3-year-old girl from California’s Bay Area has been found dead shortly after her father’s death, authorities said. On July 12, Ellie Lorenzo was reported missing by her mother in Fremont, Calif., after she learned the girl’s father was found dead in a “nearby city,” according to a Facebook post from the Fremont Police Department. Police said the parents had a custody agreement and Ellie was supposed to be returned to the mother that night after being in the father’s custody......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
“The mother of the child got news that the father was deceased in San Francisco and the child was not with him at that time,” Fremont Police Sgt. Kim McDonald said, per CBS News. “The Fremont police department went to his apartment in Fremont and the child was not located there.”
Ellie was found dead on July 13 at a recycling facility in San Jose, police said, according to CBS News, SFGate and NBC Bay Area. While the circumstances surrounding the death are still being investigated, police told SFGate they are treating it as a homicide.
Ellie Lorenzo.
Fremont Police Dept.
Details regarding the death of Ellie’s father, whose name was not provided by police, have not been released.
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Ellie’s mother, Chrystal Obi, told NBC Bay Area she’s “heartbroken” after learning of her daughter’s death and said that she will be remembered for her “smart and curious mind, her big smile, and her warm loving heart.”
“Ellie’s life was full of so many people who loved her so much and will miss her beyond words can explain,” Obi added, per the outlet.