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Mother arrested 37 years after baby's body found in California dumpster

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Mother arrested 37 years after baby's body found in California dumpster

A woman has been arrested and faces charges in the death of a newborn baby girl whose body was found inside a dumpster 37 years ago in Southern California.

The baby’s body was found on Oct. 13, 1987, by a man rummaging for recyclables in a dumpster behind a business on the 5400 block of La Sierra Avenue in Riverside.

The newborn’s death was ruled a homicide by the Riverside County Coroner’s Office and although the Riverside Police Department investigated the case, “all leads were exhausted and a suspect was not identified.”

  • A crime scene photo from the night a baby's body was found in a dumpster in Riverside on Oct. 13, 1987. (Riverside Police Department)

The investigation was eventually closed until the Police Department formed a homicide cold case unit in 2020 and a new generation of detectives began looking into the child’s death.

Through modern DNA technology, detectives were able to identify the baby’s mother as 55-year-old Melissa Jean Allen Avila.

Avila was 19 at the time of the baby’s death.

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After she was identified, local police worked with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate Avila, who had since left Riverside County and California altogether.

She was eventually located in Shelby, North Carolina, and was arrested by local authorities for murder. On Monday, she was brought back to Riverside County to face charges for killing her daughter.

The booking photo of Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55, of Shelby, North Carolina. Avila is suspected in the death of her newborn daughter 37 years ago. (Riverside Police Department)
The booking photo of Melissa Jean Allen Avila, 55, of Shelby, North Carolina. Avila is suspected in the death of her newborn daughter 37 years ago. (Riverside Police Department)

She’s currently housed at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning and is being held on $1.1 million bail.

Avila is due in court on Sept. 9, at which point she is expected to be charged with first-degree murder.

Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said his department and the detectives working cold cases are dedicated to “seeking justice for homicide victims and ensuring their families find closure.”

The Riverside Police Department also said the arrest would not have been possible without help from law enforcement partners across the state and nation, as well as the nonprofit organization Season of Justice, which helped fund the DNA analysis that ultimately led to the identification of the newborn baby and the person accused in her death.

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“This victim now has an identity, bringing resolution to the case,” Gonzalez said.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the 1987 homicide or the suspect is urged to contact the RPD Homicide Cold Case Unit by email or by calling 951-320-8000.

Detectives say they do not have any reason to believe the baby’s biological father has any “criminal culpability in the murder.”

To read more of the cold case homicides in the Riverside area that remain unsolved, click here.


In 2001, California passed the Safe Arms for Newborns law which allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially surrender a newborn, three days or younger, any hospital emergency room or fire station.

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If the baby has not suffered abuse or neglect, that person may surrender the child without fear of arrest or prosecutions, police officials said.

For more information about these safe surrender sites, as well as additional resources for parents in need, visit the California Department of Social Services website.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Sabrina Carpenter launches smoothie at Erewhon

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Sabrina Carpenter launches smoothie at Erewhon

Sabrina Carpenter is the newest celebrity to get her own smoothie at Erewhon.

The drink is called Short N’ Sweet, named after the singer’s forthcoming album.

The smoothie contains “a tropical fruit base with organic coconut & honey, collagen and pearl powder, and a dash of spirulina for a rich, blue color,” the upscale Los Angeles-based grocery chain posted on Instagram.

The limited-edition smoothie includes high-end healthy ingredients like Malk organic vanilla oat milk, Vita Coco Farmers Organic Coconut Water, Agent Nateur Holi(mane), KOS Organic Blue Spirulina Powder, Nate’s Organic Honey, organic mango, pineapple, dates and strawberries as well as organic tocos, vanilla collagen and coconut cream.

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This isn’t the first time Erewhon has partnered with big names.

In 2022, Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie went viral and remains a hit to this day. The store has also partnered with Kourtney Kardashian, Olivia Rodrigo, Shay Mitchell, Mariana Hewitt, Sofia Richie Grainge and Bella Hadid.

Carpenter’s smoothie is priced at $23 and you can purchase it at any of Erewhon’s 10 locations in L.A.

The “Espresso” singer’s album “Short N’ Sweet” is set to be released on Aug. 23.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Violent pursuit crash in Southern California narrowly misses pedestrians

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Violent pursuit crash in Southern California narrowly misses pedestrians

Home surveillance cameras captured a violent crash at the end of a high-speed police pursuit in Sherman Oaks Wednesday that came just feet from mowing down innocent pedestrians. 

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers were pursuing a suspect in a stolen four-door sedan.  

It is unclear where exactly the pursuit was initiated, but at around 7:30 p.m., a witness told KTLA that the suspect was leading police in chase near the intersection of Greenbush Avenue and Valleyheart Drive.  

  • Sherman Oaks pursuit crash
  • Sherman Oaks pursuit crash
  • Sherman Oaks pursuit crash
  • Sherman Oaks pursuit crash

Footage of the crash shows the suspect clipping what may have been a brick wall between two homes, causing the car to spin completely around before coming to a stop in a homeowner’s front yard.  

Several residents out for a walk were forced to scramble out of the way as the vehicle careened into the yard, narrowly missing them.  

The suspect immediately exited the car and attempted to flee on foot. A police helicopter can be heard overhead, while units on the ground arrived a short time later.  

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The suspect, officials said, was ultimately taken into custody.  

The vehicle sustained heavy damage, with debris strewn across the homeowner’s property.  

So far, no injuries have been reported.  

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Los Angeles, Ca

'Shamanistic leader' in Southern California arrested for child sexual abuse

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'Shamanistic leader' in Southern California arrested for child sexual abuse

A 60-year-old man in Riverside County, described by authorities as the “religious leader of a shamanistic community,” was arrested after several people accused him of sexual assault, authorities announced Wednesday.  

According to a new release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, multiple victims went to the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station on Aug. 1 to report that they were sexually assaulted by Ricardo Flores at a residence in the 26000 block of Sandi Lane.  

During their investigation, RCSD detectives said they learned the alleged assaults occurred in multiple locations in Riverside County.  

Ricardo Flores, 60. (RCSD)

The 60-year-old, a resident of Rialto, was arrested on Aug. 7 at the U.S. border as he was attempting to return to the states from Mexico.  

“Flores was transported back to Riverside County and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for sexual assault and child sexual abuse,” the release stated.  

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Investigators believe there may be other victims and are encouraging anyone with additional information on this case to contact RCSD Lead Investigator Acevedo at 951-486-6700.  

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