Remains found in North Hills home linked to missing person case

NORTH HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Human remains were found in the backyard of North Hills home where police were investigating a case involving a missing person.

The remains were found Tuesday at a home in the 16200 block of Community Court between Woodley Avenue and Woodley Place, according to Los Angeles police.

A search warrant was issued at the home in the morning. Hours later, a search and rescue team was seen digging a large hole in the backyard where the remains were discovered.

"This is a very large property. It's roughly an acre. To the rear of the area near the swimming pool, there were some areas that may have had recent alterations," LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters in the evening. "That is the area where the remains were discovered earlier today."

At a separate location, 48-year-old Russell Robinson was taken into custody and then arrested on suspicion of murder. He is being held on $2 million bail.

"There is a connection between the two, and we believe that individual is directly responsible for the homicide that we are now investigating," Hamilton said.

Details were limited, but police say the missing persons case is from June. The victim has not yet been identified.

Officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner were also at the scene.