A California faculty scholar was murdered inside an off-campus condo constructing as officers hunt for an individual of curiosity who jumped out a second-floor window to flee the crime scene.
Menghan Zhuang’s physique was discovered inside her unit on the Vistas condominium advanced within the Newhall group of Santa Clarita simply after 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 4, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned.
Zhuang, a Chinese language nationwide residing within the US on a scholar visa, was a senior finding out on the California Institute for Arts in Valencia, roughly 5 miles from her residence.
The 23-year-old, recognized to pals as Emily King, had been residing within the US for three-and-a-half years.
Zhuang’s roommate found her unresponsive of their shared unit and referred to as for assist at 6:47 p.m.
Officers discovered Zhuang affected by a number of higher physique accidents however wouldn’t disclose the extent or kind of accidents. She was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
Police say Zhuang had invited an unnamed “male companion” into her residence the night time earlier than her dying.
The person was captured on video footage escaping the constructing via Zhuang’s second-story bed room window hours earlier than her physique was found.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned the person “seems to be of Asian descent.”
“This particular person is the particular person of curiosity who we need to determine and find,” Lieutenant Michael Modica of the Sheriff’s Murder Division mentioned Thursday.
Detectives dominated out Zhuang’s roommate as a suspect who has been cooperating within the investigation.
Modica referred to as Zhuang’s dying a “mindless and violent act” that wasn’t random.
“Based mostly on this investigation, it’s clear that this was not a random act of violence and Menghan in some way knew the particular person of curiosity,” Modica mentioned.
Modica didn’t affirm the connection between Zhuang and the particular person of curiosity however mentioned detectives have been investigating the hyperlink between the 2.
He additionally didn’t acknowledge reviews of Zhuang having an older boyfriend or if there was any home violence historical past within the relationship.
County Supervisor Kathryn Barger filed a movement $20,000 reward for data on the murder.
The reward must be handed by the LA County Board of Supervisors throughout their Feb. 18 assembly however shall be retroactive to Feb. 13.
The California Institute of the Arts was cooperating within the investigation and helped the sheriff’s workplace in contacting Zhuang’s household in China.
Her dad and sister had arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Modica mentioned.
