Police have identified the body of a woman found dead inside a trash can in Little Italy on Tuesday. According to San Diego police homicide Lt. Andra Brown, the body that was discovered on the 2100 Block of State Street around 8:30am was that of a 41-year-old homeless woman named Candice Marie Morgan.
Homicide detectives assigned to investigate are unable to provide information on the circumstances surrounding Morgan's case due to the nature of her demise. Investigations are still underway as police continue to gather evidence in an attempt to locate witnesses.
Morgan was said to be a frequent figure in the Mission Valley area, Fox 5 reported. She has no known permanent address but authorities were able to locate Morgan’s sister, Jean Morgan Abughuwaleh. Upon learning of her sister’s death, Abuguwaleh expressed devastation as she tried to search for answers on why such fate had befallen her sister.
“We’re just devastated how something like this could happen.”
“She didn’t deserve this at all. No one deserves this kind of treatment."
Abughuwaleh lives in New Mexico and described her sister as a “free spirit.” She said she had no idea why Morgan was living on the streets.
With efforts to move forward with costly funeral and travel expenses, Abuguwaleh launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of providing a proper funeral for her sister as she is on Social Security Disability Insurance.
The county Medical Examiner’s Office’s report on Morgan remains sealed while the victim’s death is still being investigated.
Anyone with information about Morgan’s death was asked to call the San Diego police homicide unit at (619) 531-2293 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers’ anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
Earlier in April, a woman who was reported missing was also found dead in a trash dumpster in Huntington Park, Los Angeles not far from her home. Police said they found evidence of foul play at the scene where they discovered the body of 75-year-old Teresa Pasillas Iniguez.
NBC Los Angeles reported that investigations led authorities to arrest the victim’s son, Christian Torres, on suspicion of murdering his own mother. However, the motive behind the killing is still unknown. The murder weapon also remains to be identified.
Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said Torres could face a murder charge and is being held on $2 million bail.
