Bloomington, CA: Remains of murdered Bloomington teen found in Corona landfill

By Melissa Pinion-Whitt
Posted: 08/05/2010 11:40:23 AM PDT

Fontana police found the remains of a slain Bloomington teen at a Corona landfill Wednesday, ending a search that spanned more than 70 days and took place in two cities.
Police and San Bernardino County sheriff's volunteers found the remains of 17-year-old Anyssia Katherine Escamilla in the El Sobrante landfill, after sifting through some 30,000 tons of rubbish.

"A needle in a haystack doesn't do justice to the scope of this search," said Fontana police Sgt. Billy Green.

Police announced the find at the Police Department on Thursday, before members of Escamilla's family.

"We stand here today knowing we can have closure and properly lay our daughter to rest," said Anyssia's father, Jorge Escamilla.

Anyssia was three months pregnant with her boyfriend's child when she was killed. Her boyfriend, Jesus Francisco Avitia Jr., 18, eventually confessed to the killing while being interviewed by police.

Anyssia's family reported her missing May 11, prompting an investigation by police. Detectives interviewed Avitia and arrested him May 21 after he failed a lie detector test.

"His first statement was that he was present when she choked herself to death and we knew that was implausible," said Fontana police Detective Shawn Hare.

He admitted to wrapping the Bloomington High School girl's body in garbage bags and putting her in a trash can outside a home in south Fontana.

Hare said Avitia wanted his girlfriend to get an abortion because he felt having a child would jeopardize his goal of becoming a nurse.
They suspect he killed her because she refused to abort the child.

Investigators narrowed down the spots Anyssia's body could have been dumped based on records kept by sanitation workers. They searched Mid-Valley landfill in Rialto and the Corona landfill.

Avitia pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder in Fontana Superior Court on May 25 and remains behind bars at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

He is scheduled to return to court Aug. 18.