Kayla Reed's body found in a canal

January 21, 2006

The body of a 15-year-old Livermore girl missing since December was found on Jan. 10 in a San Joaquin County canal, the Livermore Police Department reported today.

Kayla Reed was found in the Delta-Mendota Canal in San Joaquin County between Tracy and Vernalis, Livermore police Chief Steve Krull said.

A worker in the area saw what appeared to be a body in the water, according to Krull.

The San Joaquin County Coroner's Office positively identified Kayla this morning.

Kayla was reported as a suspected runaway on Dec. 5. Her mother last saw Kayla at their home on Dec. 3 at 12:30 a.m.

Police announced Tuesday that they had begun investigating the disappearance as an unknown circumstances missing person case since Kayla had not made any attempts to contact family and friends.

No one had seen or talked to Kayla since her disappearance, police reported.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office indicated that, when found, the condition of Kayla's body was consistent with one that had been in the water for three or four weeks or more, according to Krull.

Krull said there is no way to tell exactly how long she was in the water.

Authorities identified Kayla by comparing a picture of her smiling to the teeth of the found body, Krull said. A torso X-ray was also used to establish her identity.

Authorities have not yet determined how Kayla died, Krull said.

Livermore police and the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office are jointly investigating the case as a homicide, Krull said.

Authorities are looking into all leads and angles, including phone records and online activity, according to Krull.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the crime to call Livermore police at (925) 371-4900 or the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office at (209) 468-4400.

CONTACT: Livermore Police Department (925) 371-4987
San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office (209) 468-4400

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