Detectives Thursday were investigating the death of a woman whose dog-bitten body was found in a homeless encampment in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood near South Los Angeles.
Detectives were called at approximately 11:40 p.m. Wednesday to the 1100 block of West 87th Street, west of Vermont Avenue, where they assisted deputies from the South Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station with a death investigation, said LASD Homicide Lt. Steven De Jong.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. De Jong said the body had dog bites, but it was unclear if they occurred after she was already dead.
At this point it’s unclear if the woman died as a result of a homicide, De Jong told Fox11, which reported that the initial call came from another person who said they also lived in the encampment.
Los Angeles medical examiner’s personnel, who will determine the woman’s identity and cause of death, were at the scene along with animal control officers.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to call the Sheriff Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323 890-5500. Callers who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.