Woman found dead in Pacoima may be victim of fatal beating

A 23-year-old woman was found dead Monday in Pacoima, possibly the victim of a fatal beating, authorities said.

Officers responded around 2:30 a.m. to the vicinity of Carl Street and Lehigh Avenue, which is next to the San Fernando Gardens housing project. They discovered the body of a woman who had sustained   blunt force trauma, said Sgt. Diane Escalante of the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill Station.

Four homicides have occurred over the past year within a mile of San Fernando Gardens, according to data provided by The Times’ Homicide Report.

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-- David Zahniser

Image: Approximate location of incident in purple, along with 51 other homicides since January 2007 within two miles of the incident. Credit: Los Angeles Times Homicide Report