Woman survives after her throat is cut

WHITTIER, Calif. Authorities cleared the scene at approximately 5:15 p.m. Tuesday at Turnbull Canyon Road in Whittier.

The investigation is still underway as a the 20-year-old victim recovers in the hospital.

The young woman managed to crawl up and out of the canyon to get help after her throat was slit.

Dozens of officers scoured the area for evidence after the vicious attack. Investigators say that the 20-year-old knew her attackers. She apparently met up with the three men last night in Bellflower. At some point they all ended up at Turnbull Canyon Road.

The victim told police that the men started to beat her in the car, but she managed to escape. As she was standing on the side of the street one of the men came up behind her and slit her throat. They then pushed her down the canyon.

The suspects took off, but the victim managed to crawl out of the canyon at about 3:30 a.m. She made it to a neighbor's house to call for help. The 90-year-old woman who answered the door said she was shocked.

"She said, 'I've been stabbed.' I told her that I had to go turn the alarm off. So I went to go turn the alarm off and came back to the door," said resident Arlene Boatwright. "When she came in she had her sweater wrapped around her neck tight. She came in and told me, 'Call the police, I have been stabbed.'"

Her descriptions led to the arrests of Vincent Mendoza, 21, Edward Meraz, 24, and Jose Ayala, 27, all of El Monte. They were booked on suspicion of attempted murder and kidnapping.

Authorities say when they went through the canyon to search the scene they came across the vehicle and found all three men. When searching the vehicle authorities say they found a shovel and a rope.

The Whittier Police Department says the 20-year-old woman has undergone surgery and is listed in critical condition.

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