Los Angeles police Tuesday were investigating the discovery of a possible shallow grave in Northern California, but authorities would not say if the discovery is related to the search for a model and aspiring actress who disappeared from Hollywood last month.
Los Angeles police confirmed that detectives were in Northern California, but they declined to provide any further details.
Lt. Rob Bringolf of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said LAPD detectives were in the area Monday “actively working a missing persons case,” which led them to the bank of Dry Creek in the Spenceville Wildlife Area.
“A search of that area uncovered what is believed to be a shallow grave,” Bringolf said.
He said LAPD and sheriff’s detectives were at the site Tuesday with anthropologists from Cal State Chico “to determine if the site is a grave site, and if so, whether any remains found at this site are related to LAPD’s missing person case.”
Bringolf did not give any details on the missing person case, but Fox40 in Sacramento, citing a “trusted source close to the investigation,” reported that remains found at the site are possibly those of Adea Shabani. The 25-year-old Shabani was last seen about 11 a.m. Feb. 23 near the 1700 block of Wilcox Avenue, between Hollywood Boulevard and Franklin Avenue, not far from her Los Angeles home, police said.
She came from Macedonia and had been in Los Angeles less than two years, according to her friends. Her family hired a private investigator to help find her and offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts.
Last Thursday night, a North Hollywood man authorities suspect was involved in Shabani’s disappearance fatally shot himself during a law enforcement chase from Hesperia to the Corona area. He was identified as Christopher Spotz, 33, who has been romantically linked to Shabani. Spotz appeared in various short films over the past three years and had a minor role in a forthcoming web series called “The Shoaks,” according to IMDB.com.
Anyone with information regarding Shabani’s whereabouts was urged to call the LAPD’s Missing Persons Unit at (213) 996-1800. During non-business hours, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.
Information can also be submitted by calling the private investigator, Beverly Hills-based Origin Investigations Inc., at (800) 358-3830.