A 6-year-old girl who disappeared from her home in West Jordan, Utah on Tuesday was found in a canal on Wednesday.
Sierra Lynn Newbold’s body was found about an hour after her mother, Kathy Newbold reported her missing from her home near 7095 South and 2300 West around 7:30 a.m., the Deseret News reported.
“We don’t have any idea how the girl disappeared or whether she was taken from the bedroom. It’s a complete mystery,” said Reed Newbold, Sierra’s grandfather.
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An autopsy has shown that she was sexually assaulted and her death has been ruled a homicide. The police would not say if the autopsy was able to collect any DNA evidence, so as to not jeopardize their investigation, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune.
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“Our highest priority now is to identify, arrest, and successfully prosecute the person or persons responsible for this crime,” said Police Chief Doug Diamond. “I share in the concern of our residents for the ongoing safety and security of our children.”
Diamond declined to give anymore details but did say, “There was not a significant amount of trauma on the body.”
“There is obviously a predator out there that is a monster, that has murdered a child,” Diamond said. “Is this predator targeting other children? I have no idea at this point.”
Sierra’s murder is similar to another West Jordan homicide in August 1995, when 6-year-old Rosie Tapia was taken from her home at the Glendale area apartments and her body was found in a canal near her home. In 2010 police had a person of interest they were talking to, but no arrest was made.
The police so far are saying that it is an isolated incident and no arrests have been made in the case, reports the Huffington Post, although the police have increased police patrols and asked parents to take precautions to protect their children.
Police have said there was no sign of a break-in at the family’s home, and they are currently analyzing surveillance video.
