Body found in shallow grave in Pico Rivera backyard

PICO RIVERA -- Sheriff's investigators and coroner's officials recovered a body Thursday that was found buried in a shallow grave in the backyard of a Pico Vista Road home, authorities said.
The body was initially described only as male, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said. His age, identity and cause of death all remained under investigation.
Deputies were called to the scene in the 8500 block of Pico Vista Road about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday after someone reported finding the body, Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Michael Parker said.
"A loved one and acquaintances were looking for a person who hadn't been seen for a few days," Parker said. "When they got to the residence, where they knew the missing person frequents, they found human remains in the backyard and called sheriff's deputies."
Winter said that contrary to previous news reports, the body was not dismembered.
"The body is intact," he said.
He said investigators estimated the body had been in the backyard for not more than a week, Winter said. It was fully clothed and buried in a shallow grave.
"I'm not going to make any other comments on the condition of the body, other than it's not dismembered," Winter said.
"The Los Angeles County Coroner's Special Operations Response Team arrived and excavated the site (Thursday) and recovered an intact human body," Parker said.
Detectives have interviewed several people, including those who found the body, Parker added. No suspects had been arrested or identified as of press time.
A group of distraught people gathered near the scene identified themselves as family members of the missing person, but declined to comment further.
A cadaver dog was brought to the scene to search for any possible additional remains, but none was found.
Longtime resident Betty Lounsberry, 74, said the neighborhood is usually very quiet.
"I've lived here some 50-odd years and it's the quietest neighborhood you'd ever want to live in. I can't believe it. It's beyond my comprehension."
Deputy Lillian Peck said anyone with information about the incident should contact the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Anonymous callers can phone Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or text the letters TIPLA to CRIMES (274637) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.