Police are investigating the death of a 3-year-old Fremont girl as a homicide after discovering her body early Saturday at a San Jose recycling plant.
Ellie Lorenzo was reported missing Friday after her father was found dead in San Francisco, according to the Fremont Police Department.
Before dawn the next morning, the San Jose Police Department dispatched officers to a local recycling facility where they found the body of a child that they say resembled Ellie.
SJPD immediately launched a homicide investigation, as it does for every child’s death in its jurisdiction, department spokesperson Sgt. Jose Garibay told The Standard.
“Child deaths are incredibly meticulous investigations that require a variety of evidence and follow-up to determine a cause and manner of death,” he wrote in an email Saturday.
Later that same day, detectives from Fremont met with their counterparts in San Jose to brief them on the initial missing-person investigation.
“Going forward, the San Jose Police Department will lead the homicide investigation,” Fremont police spokesperson Amy Gee told The Standard on Saturday evening. “However, the Fremont Police Department will continue to support Ellie’s family and assist San Jose in any way possible with the investigation.”
Fremont police Chief Sean Washington expressed condolences to the girl’s family.
“Our department is saddened to learn Ellie has not survived,” he said. “Our hearts are heavy for Ellie’s family, and we will continue to support them during this difficult time.”
The chief thanked the San Jose and San Francisco police departments for helping with the investigation, as well as the California Highway Patrol.
It is with a heavy heart and our deepest condolences that we report a juvenile female resembling Ellie Lorenzo was located Saturday, July 13, 2024 by @SanJosePD. Investigators are still actively investigating this tragic incident.
— San Francisco Police (@SFPD) July 13, 2024
“I want to thank all the members of our department and allied agencies who worked tirelessly throughout the night to try to bring Ellie home safely,” Washington continued. “On behalf of our department and community, please keep everyone impacted by this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers.”