Death investigation underway after person's body found in backyard of Alhambra home

ALHAMBRA, Calif. (KABC) -- A homicide investigation was underway in Alhambra after a body was found in the backyard of a home Thursday.

Alhambra police received a call around 4:40 p.m. from a neighbor who reported a body in the backyard of a home in the 1200 block of South Sierra Vista Avenue.

"One of the residents, we think it's another roommate, who called and said this person is laying in the backyard bleeding from the head," L.A. County sheriff's Lt. John Corina said.

The body was found face down between a concrete step and the housing for a water heater with a cardboard box over his or her head.

"I can't tell what caused the injury, basically. All I can see is a lot of blood around the head area, but the way they're wedged in between these items, laying down on the ground, you can't see the person's face or anything like that," Corina said.

Investigators said the house is divided into small separate rooms apparently occupied by renters. Four Chinese-speaking residents were interviewed by detectives with the help of translators.

Neighbors said they do not know much about the occupants of the house.

"Because we don't know (what happened) in an abundance of caution, we're going to treat it as a homicide until we know better," Corina said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's homicide bureau was assisting Alhambra police with the investigation.

The coroner will determine the cause of death.