Vigil held for Long Beach baby found dead in dumpster

Jory Rand Image
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Vigil held for Long Beach baby found dead in dumpster
A candlelight vigil was held Friday night for a 3-week-old Long Beach girl whose body was found dead in a dumpster in San Diego County.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A candlelight vigil was held Friday night for a 3-week-old Long Beach girl whose body was found dead in a dumpster in San Diego County.

A gunman kidnapped Eliza Delacruz after shooting and wounding her parents and uncle at their home last Saturday. She was found dead the next day in a dumpster.

Three-week-old Eliza Delacruz is seen in an undated photo.
Long Beach Media Relations

"It's really hard to think that someone could put a baby like this in a dumpster and just leave the baby at three weeks old. It's hard. We live two blocks away," neighbor Kevin Doyle said.

Neighbors and parents who have lost children to violence took part in the vigil, organized by the group Justice for Murdered Children.

"The reason we came out is because my son was murdered almost a year ago and the community was really good to us. So we decided we would pay it forward from here on out," said neighbor Enchantra Cardenas, whose son was murdered one year ago.

Candles burned bright, messages were left and balloons were sent into the heavens all for the young life lost.

Delacruz's parents and uncle were not at the vigil. All three victims remained at the hospital.

The suspect, who remains unidentified, is still at large.

"Somebody knows and they need to come forward. This family needs justice," nearby resident Christina Ehman said.