9-year-old girl finds infant's dismembered remains in backyard of Los Angeles-area home

WESTMONT, LOS ANGELES -- A 9-year-old girl playing in her backyard found the dismembered body of an infant in Westmont Saturday afternoon.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department homicide detectives responded to the 1500 block of W. 104th Street where the human remains were found. Authorities said the baby appeared to be a few days old and that "significant portions of the body are still missing."

Brittany Placencia said she was playing with her dog in the backyard when she saw her pet sniffing at a ball. She said next to the ball was the child's leg.

Brittany told her mother, who thought it could have been a chicken leg, but then realized it was a newborn baby. The child's head was found next to their fence.

Deputies were urging residents in the area to look in their yards and trash cans for suspicious items that were discarded because the infant's killer may have tossed the rest of the remains.

Several residents in the area said their trash cans were checked and were not aware of any recently pregnant women in their neighborhood.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may contact "Crime Stoppers" at (800) 222-8477.