12-year-old California boy accused of stabbing 8-year-old sister to death

 

8-year-old stabbing victim Leila Fowler. Photo: Screenshot via KTXL-TV.

 

 
By Stephen C. Webster

 

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A 12-year-old California boy was arrested Saturday and accused of stabbing his 8-year-old sister to death and lying to authorities about it, sparking a furious manhunt for an unidentified intruder authorities now say never existed.

 

The boy’s name was not released, but police in Valley Springs said he’s believed to have murdered his sister Leila Fowler on April 27, after their parents left to attend a little league game. Police did not speculate on a motive.

 

The boy called police to report his sister’s injury, claiming that he’d seen a man ran out of their home and then found his sister dying on the floor.

 

That story led authorities on a furious manhunt, going door to door in the small town asking residents if they’ve seen anything unusual, inspecting backyard sheds and even dispatching divers. Police also took up posts at schools and bus stops following the murder as the hunt for a suspect progressed.

 

Authorities said that more than 2,000 man hours went into making the arrest.

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8 Year Old Girl Killed By Intruder In California

SOURCE :  BuzzNewsNow

Published on Apr 28, 2013

VALLEY SPRINGS, Calif. — Authorities have released the name of a young girl who died after being stabbed in her home in rural Northern California.

The county coroner identified the girl as 8-year-old Leila Fowler. Initially she was reported as being 9-years-old, but Coroner Kevin Raggio said Sunday she would have turned 9 in June.

Meanwhile, residents of the tiny community of Valley Springs in Calaveras County are being told to keep their doors locked as authorities continue to search for the little girl’s killer.

Sheriff’s officials say the girl was found by her brother after he encountered an intruder in the home around noon Saturday.

When the intruder ran away, the boy found his sister stabbed. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital

Valley Springs is about 60 miles southeast of Sacramento.

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