Authorities identify body as that of missing Moreno Valley girl

Authorities on Wednesday positively identified the partially decomposed body found on the desolate outskirts of Moreno Valley as that of Norma Lopez, the 17-year-old high school student who police suspected was abducted after summer school.

The Riverside County coroner’s office made the determination after a morning autopsy.

The body was found Tuesday afternoon by a local resident doing yard work in a remote section of town surrounded by wheat fields, just off the 60 Freeway. 

Exposed to the elements during the recent heat wave, the remains were so decomposed that authorities could not immediately determine the sex of the deceased, let alone whether it was Norma's body, said Riverside County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Joe Borja.

Borja said investigators still have no suspects in the case, although a newer model green SUV was seen speeding away from the area where Norma  disappeared. 

Norma was reported missing about 12:30 p.m. Thursday by her older sister, Sonja, after she failed to return home from a summer biology class at Valley View High School. She was out of class by 10 a.m. and had plans to meet her older sister and a friend, authorities said.

Investigators said they found some of Norma's belongings, and signs of a struggle, in a vacant field along Cottonwood Avenue, a popular shortcut among students just a few blocks from the school. They are also looking for the driver and passengers of the SUV seen near the field at the time of her disappearance.

On Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Department announced a $35,000 reward for information leading to Norma's return or the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for her abduction.

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Department and the FBI have interviewed dozens of friends and associates, as well as local felons and others who crossed paths with police. Authorities urged anyone with information about the case to call (877) 242-4345, or send an e-mail to findnorma@riversidesheriff.org.

-- Phil Willon in Moreno Valley

Top photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Joe Borja speaks to the media today. Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times. Bottom photo: Norma Lopez

Comments

[Adriana]

So sad this poor girl was so young!! I hope they catch the monster who did this!!

[Rivera]

:(

[Khrystyne]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I was hoping for better news. RIP.

[byetheway77]

The murder of Norma Lopez comes in the wake of a few other murders that occurred south of Moreno Valley near interstate 15, a corridor linking Riverside with Chula Vista, California in San Diego county. The other murders were in the Escondido area in San Diego county. There was also a rape less than one month ago near Escondido. The arrest of a child pedophile killer who killed a small girl near Lake Ellsinore is hardly forgotten. The killer worked in Temecula. There is an unsolved murder spree in the Riverside-Arlington area regarding dozens of prostitutes that were picked up by an unknown motorist and later their bodies were dumped near Lincoln Avenue in Corona. California releases so many parolees of sexual crimes into the Riverside county area that they often share the same residence and they are located close to public schools.

[MLA17]

God Bless Norma and her family. This is a terrible tragedy to happen. I hope they find whoever committed this heinous crime.

[Manuel Alderete]

Killing a minor should be an "Instant 3 Strikes" offense: death penalty, no life sentence, no parole, no more chances to do it again.

Jerry Brown, are you listening?

[Carlos A Nunez]

Oh No..:-(..... This just breaks my heart. I feel so bad for this girl. I wish I would had been there to help her. My condolences go out to the family. This animal who did this will be caught and executed! He did not have to kill her.:-( .. I am so sorry. :-(

[norma]

To the family of Norma Lopez, I could not imagine what you are going through at this time. My heart and my prayers go out to you and your family.
I wish that I could take the pain away from you and bring back your daughter back. Please know that there are many families that feel your pain and will be praying for you and your family. May you find peace, although at this time I know that this is impossible reality. My heart and prayers to you all.

Mrs. Norma Rodarte

[byetheway77]

The case of Norma Lopez comes in the wake of a few murders that occurred south of Moreno Valley near interstate 15, a corridor linking Riverside with Chula Vista, California in San Diego county. The other murders were in the Escondido area in San Diego county. There was also a rape less than one month ago near Escondido. The arrest of a child pedophile killer who killed a small girl near Lake Ellsinore is hardly forgotten. The killer worked in Temecula. There is an unsolved murder spree in the Riverside-Arlington area regarding dozens of prostitutes that were picked up by an unknown motorist and later their bodies were dumped near Lincoln Avenue in Corona. California releases so many parolees of sexual crimes into the Riverside county area that they often share the same residence and they are located close to public schools.

[halfpint]

Poor lil baby may you rest in peace, I hope you haunt the evil person who had no right to do this to you.. My heat aches and I dont even know you. May her family find peace with God in this difficult time my thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Torres Waters-Leiva]

My heart goes out to the Lopez family. I know that this is truly devestating to everyone who heart that Norma touched in her 17 years of life. One minute you have your love one and the next thing she gone. My heart ache with you.

God be with you and your fanily through this time of sorrow.

[Iqbal]

This is so heartbreaking. Condolences to the Lopez family. I hope they catch whoever committed this terrible crime.

[Chris]

And when they catch him, instant death. No vigils by the idiots who oppose the death penalty. You can not rehabilitate a monster like this.

[Theresa Ritson]

My thoughts and pryers go out to the Lopez family.....Rest in Peace Norma....R.I.P.

[Fran]

I pray for the family I can't imagine their anguish, i am so sorry for this tragedy I have family in moreno valley I hope police are able to catch these horrible animals.

[ceaandtee]

its a shame that society has become so violent against women and children. can't even walk home from an event of any kind by yourself now. you never know who is watching you. poor thing

[August]

Another MONSTER created by the California Department of Corrections & Funded 100% by Taxpayers.

[Theresa Ritson]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Lopez family....Rest in Peace Norma...Rest in Peace...

[Dr. Bryan]

The Megan's Law website has 2 convicted rapists and 15 other sex offenders living with in a mile or so of where this poor girl was abducted. This better not be another example of the Dept. of Corrections failing to monitor a violent sex offender set loose on the public! My deepest condolences to Norma's family. How many more Norma's , Chelsea's, and Amber's does California need before the Dept. of Corrections will learn to leave these animals where they belong...behind bars!

[What excuse do we have this time?]

I hope the family catches the murderer first and painfully deals with this person.

[sal martin]

need to start killing sexual predetors for this crimes to stop not give felons less time for their crimes

[gary]

this is getting out of control. I have a daughter and I have been reminding her all the time to know her situation and her surroundings. I am getting so sick and tired of reading about teens getting killed. 2 in northern san diego and now this in moreno valley. parents remind your daughters that going places alone is not acceptable anymore. My heart breaks for all those parents.

[Nicole]

i live in moreno valley and my family used to know this family.
i hope norma rests in peace and that this murderer is caught

[Anonymous]

What about the guy who found her? Or a neighbor of hers? Someone who knew her routine, maybe followed her for days?

This is like the film "The Lovely Bones" where a young girl takes a short cut through a field on her way home from school. Maybe the killer saw the film.

Maybe all the writing about The Grim Sleeper "inspired" him.

The green SUV most likely belongs to the killer.

Say they find the guy and put him on trial and convict him and sentence him to death. He will be on death row for years on tax payers' expense. Maybe it's time to change the system in the case of homicides of this type. But we would of course have to be 100 % percent sure we have convicted the right person.

R.I.P Norma, you will never be forgotten.

[Laura]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of this girl... I hope they catch the sick person or people that did this to an innocent young girl.

It's so sad.