Times coverage: Lazhanae Harris, 13 and on the run, was stabbed to death in L.A.

Lazhanae Harris, a black 13-year-old girl, was found stabbed to death in a rundown apartment in the 100 block of East 97th Street in Historic South Central Los Angeles on Saturday, March 7, 2009.  Preshae Bryan Tanner, a 22-year-old black woman, was charged in the murder and has pleaded not guilty. Tanner was romantically involved with a man who was staying at the apartment, police said.

The Times' Kim Christensen and Garrett Therolf have details today of Lazhanae's short life in a story about the deaths of at least 268 children between January 2008 and early August 2009 who, at some point, had come under the protection of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Seventy-six of those deaths were determined to be homicides, according to internal county documents:

The loving attention that eluded Lazhanae Harris in life flooded the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church at her funeral in March.

Family and friends, mostly youngsters, packed the South Los Angeles sanctuary that day and "all seemingly admired this girl," recalled congregation clerk Myrna Smith.

"It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. They were all 12-, 13-, 14-year-old kids. And they were all crying."

Days before, Lazhanae, 13, had been found in a rundown apartment in South Los Angeles, face down on a bloody mattress. Her femoral artery had been slashed.

Shunted from place to place for most of her life, she was left with no guardian but the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. The agency took her from her mother's custody at age 3, placing her in a series of homes that didn't last.

Read more about Lazhanae's life: Lazhanae Harris, 13 and on the run, was stabbed to death in L.A.

Read the comments left on her original Homicide Report post

Follow The Homicide Report on Twitter @latimeshomicide.

Comments

[Cliffonte C.]

And they wonder why we crazy!

[Kenny]

After reading this article, it just goes to show you, people shouldnt have kids they arent prepared to take care of. Her mother popped out nine kids and adopted all of them away including Lazhanae! Hasnt she ever heard of birth control? My goodness.

[just sad]

What happen to the two missing kids of the birth mother? Poor girl I feel bad for her all she knew was hard times,and what sadder is there are many many more just like her

[562vert]

I feel so bad about lazhanae. I didn't know her or her family .....but this is heartbreaking. She was a lost soul looking for her nich...... I hope that person who killed her gets life. She looks so pretty and could have done much more...... I was angry at the media when I saw this on the hr months ago. I was like why I didn't hear about this on the news channels? I didn't even know the background on this story I just saw 13yr bllk girl and my jaw just dropped. RIP LAZHANAE HARRIS

[Revealtruth]

Children die under state care, many in secret, as none of the DCS workers are accountable, nor are the foster parents, the judges fail to have DCS workers justify their false allegations with evidence. DCS workers commit perjury, falsification of court records, and James Payne, DCS Indiana State Director, condones what DCS does, even when an beaten infant is refused medical care by the DCS workers, who allowed the abuse & hand walked the abuser into court to advocate for the abuser. Children in Indiana are tokens for federal re-imbursement funds, but the feds do not care to ask for necessity of the actions of DCS & fails to make anyone follow criteria, as many children are never given advocates. But this is Indiana, your child is their profit, as the innocent parent is defamed.

[Daena Hamilton]

As a mother with four daugthers my heart is breaking. i simply cant believe a child can be so destructive that not one family member try to step up and help this child who was reaching out for help. After being abandoned of course she had issues but as a family unit thats when we are to step up. This will continue to happen if we as black families dont start pulling together. What happened to the old saying "iT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD"

[Kim]

waht is remarkable is that this girls family is taking out as though they play no part in her death at all. Each and everyone of them must take responsiblity for her death. No not the actual dead part but everything leading up to the death part. Not one member of this girls family was responsible and caring and loving enough to take this child in. And yet they interview and talk about what a great girl she was, how would any of them know? Seems to me from reading this story that they mostly kept her at arms length away for comfort their own. No body in this girls biological family was willing to take care of her but none of them are opposed to getting thier stories in the paper. By what 15 minutes will make some of us do. Shame on them!!

[Kim]

Kim, I thank you for saying all that I was thinking, but had yet to say. I personally know the family, but didnt know of Lazhanaes life as she was living it. As the family I would have been ashamed to comment.(15 minutes of Fame) The family is to fault as well as the close knit neighborhood they live in. "It takes a village to raise a child". I heard she was a very sweet but sassy child. Probably just looking for love. I feel like I could have done something, but I knew nothing until her end. I still hurt as if I neglected her. Take a note to keep your eyes open for kids like Lazhanae and even Jaycee Duggard. Say something, Do something, SNITCH SAVE A CHILDS LIFE. They didn't ask to come him to be given away, abused, prostituted or used. Lazhanae, everything is alright now. R.I.P Baby

[Kim]

I was so angry when I wrote my first posting. I didn't realize all my spelling and typing errors. I hope that my statement was understandable to all. I have since gone back and re-read what I posted and stand by what I posted. The "family" has no right to comment on this young girls life or character they didn't know her.

[Mother of 3 girls]

I can't believe people are so mean and evil like this, a 22 year old woman who should have been giving this 13 year old kid some good advice and then turn her in as a run away, but instead she killed her (wtf). I'm hurt as though this kid was apart of me. She was in and out of foster homes and her mom continues to have babies and give them away (very sad). I feel her mother should be in jail right along with the stupid low budget person who committed this crime. If this was my child I probably wouldn't want to live anymore from all the guilt I would feel. Lazhanae rest for now and watch over your sisters and brothers who's out there somewhere in the foster system as well. To Lazhanae mom, please tie your tubes and stop having babies for someone else to raise.

[Rick]

I agree with Kenny. She lays up there and have 9 kids that she just gave away like they are candy bars. You talk about irresponsible. I bet she doesn't even know who the girl father was. How she bring these kids in the world knowing she could not properly take care or raise them. People wonder why there are gangs, this is why.

[mrseducatedwoman]

As a former foster youth this story troubles me. You would think that someone from this girl family would have stepped up to the plate and took her in "NOT" Its sad to say but I come from a family of drug addicted mothers, aunties, uncles grandmothers and I could go on. From the nature of the story it seems as if her mother could be on drugs thats why she has so many children.I know how it feels to live with strangers. Ive been in over 13 foster homes. When your attractive and developed its hard to even sleep at night in a foster homes. I ran away at 13 and didn't not return until I was 16 years old. I felt better on the run than living with preditors. These foster homes are not safe for most children especially the girls.I made it by the grace of GOD. The sad part is people will take advantage of you when they have an insight on your personal life. I am a HARRIS my dad had so many damn children I am still looking for siblings. I am doing everything in my power to help foster youths. Since I made it out of the system I want to build the souls and spirits of these young people. RIP Ms Harris

[Da'Janay]

i know Lazhanae and she was my god sister i was telling her to come to my house before this happen but she told me she was in texas so liike there was nothing else i could say but i love her with all my heart and i would be up there soon sister i love you lazhanae !!!!