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Body of missing Northern California girl found
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-07 15:01

TRACY, Calif. – The remains of a missing Northern California girl were found Monday in a suitcase recovered from a pond a couple of miles from where she was last seen more than a week ago, authorities said.

Body of missing Northern California girl found
Sandra Cantu, 8, disappeared on March 27. Her body was found at a dairy-farm pond near her Calilfornia home. [Agencies]
Farmworkers draining the irrigation pond found the suitcase containing Sandra Cantu's body, Tracy Police Chief Janet Thiessen said at an evening news conference.

Thiessen said the 8-year-old was wearing the same clothes she wore when last seen on March 27: a pink "Hello Kitty" T-shirt and black leggings.

Authorities planned an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

"Our heartfelt sympathies go to Sandra's family and friends," she said. "We will determine the person or persons responsible for this reprehensible act, and we will bring them to justice."

Sandra's disappearance sparked a massive search effort around Tracy, about 60 miles east of San Francisco, that included hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement officials, including the FBI, and more than 1,000 tips.

Before the evening's dramatic announcement, investigators cordoned off the area surrounding the pond for hours and combed it for clues, as television trucks and reporters gathered in the flat farmland nearby.

Police had been to the pond earlier in their search efforts, but it was full of water, Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman said.

"This is an unimaginable loss for any parent," he said.

Dozens of mourners — some holding candles, others wiping away tears — gathered outside the mobile home park where Sandra's family lives and she was last seen, as police blocked the entrance.

"I am still in shock," said Brandy Robles, 27, who held her 2-year-old son. "You see this in the movies. I never thought it would be real life — real to me."