Body of Black Teen Girl, Tioni Theus, Found Dumped on Los Angeles Freeway; Community and State Officials Ask for Help in Search for Killer

Officials in Los Angeles are looking for answers after a Black teen girl’s lifeless body was dumped on the freeway.

In the early morning of Jan. 8, the body of 16-year-old Tioni Theus was found dumped on a busy off-ramp in L.A. The teen was last seen on Jan. 7 when she was leaving her father’s Compton home on her way to a party. CNN U.S. reports that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined Tioni died from a gunshot wound to the neck. According to the news outlet, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is leading the investigation.

During a news conference on Wednesday, CHP Assistant Chief Jesus Holguin said someone out there knows something. “There has to be an individual out there that witnessed at least a portion, if not the entirety, of this case. We know that people out there witnessed something that we can follow up on and hopefully get to the bottom of this crime as soon as possible,” said Holguin.

Local leaders in the community are asking the public for any answers to help find her murderer. A $110,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Tioni’s killers has been offered; the reward was gathered together by state, county and city officials.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Gascón said the teen may have been a victim of human trafficking. Tiffany Blacknell, Gascón’s special advisor, said Tioni was particularly vulnerable, as she was a child victim of sexual exploitation and her mother was disabled after an injury.

Tioni was a straight-A student who loved dancing and playing golf. “Everything made her laugh,” said Tioni’s cousin Senia. “She was a bundle of joy, real bubbly and friendly. She was very goofy, happy. She was always smiling, even when she was crying.”

Tioni’s family has put together a GoFundMe for those who’d like to donate money to help find Tioni’s killer.