A suspect is in custody in connection with the brutal murder of a 17-year-old high school cheerleader who was found stabbed to death in California days before Christmas.
Angelina Camillia Gonzales’ family claims the young woman’s ex-boyfriend is to blame.
Gonzales’ family told this to the local station KABC that her ex-boyfriend picked her up from a cheerleading banquet on December 20 and took her back to his house.
Around 10 p.m. that evening, Azusa Police Department officers found Gonzales suffering from stab wounds.
She was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said.
The family claims one of them was able to trace Gonzales’ cell phone to her ex-boyfriend’s house, according to KABC.
“When I got there, there was already crime scene footage and forensics and all kinds of other things. And I ran up to the officers and said, ‘Hey, my daughter’s in there. You know, my daughter is in there. I’m trying to find her. She’s not home.’ And then they said to me, sit on the side for a moment,” Robert Caraballo, Angelina’s stepfather, told KABC.
Caraballo said he told his stepdaughter several times to stay away from her ex-boyfriend, but he also said she “had a very big heart and always saw the good in him.”
According to a GoFundMe page set up by Gonzales’ mother, Letica Carabello, she was about to turn 18 on January 7.
“She had such a big future ahead of her. She had a heart of gold. She was my perfect, beautiful Angel baby,” Letica Carabello wrote.
“I don’t even have the words for it. I can’t even handle it. I need her. Our family is devastated. We appreciate all the support and love. Thank you all.”
Police have not identified the suspect, saying only that he is an 18-year-old acquaintance of the victim and a resident of Azusa.
The suspect’s arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital.
Officials said the district attorney’s office is also investigating the case and decisions on whether to file the case will be made Tuesday morning.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Azusa Police Department for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
