Tina Carter writes a message on a poster memorializing her daughter, Mireya Nila McCall, pictured at her kindergarten graduation. (Photo: Liz O Baylen/ Los Angeles Times / June 15, 2010) |
COMPTON -- A Compton man accused of killing his 5-year-old niece and then stuffing her body in a trash bag inside a Compton closet is set to be arraigned Thursday.
Julian Carter, 25, was charged Tuesday with one count of murder with the special allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon, a knife, according to Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link.
He was being held on $1.08 million bail.
The girl, identified as 5-year-old Mireya Nila McCall, was discovered Sunday after her mother called the sheriff's department and reported her missing.
Deputies made a routine search of the home and found the girl's body in a garbage bag hidden in a closet.
After an investigation, detectives arrested Carter in connection with the girl's death. Homicide detectives say they have recovered evidence tying Carter to the killing.
According to the coroner, Mireya was killed by "sharp-force trauma to the neck."
Mireya lived in the residence in the 1100 block of East Peck Street with her mother and uncle. Deputies say they believe the mother was at home at the time of the girl's killing, but did not know what was going on.
The little girl was described as a happy child, often seen playing and singing on the street and had just graduated from kindergarten.
Neighbors say Carter was raised in the church, used to have a job, dressed well and loved to dance, but his behavior changed in recent months. Lately, they noticed that he was into heavy drugs and described him as a "zombie-like" figure in the neighborhood.
Carter faces up to 26 years in state prison if convicted.
No motive for the crime has been released.
Julian Carter, 25, was charged Tuesday with one count of murder with the special allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon, a knife, according to Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link.
He was being held on $1.08 million bail.
The girl, identified as 5-year-old Mireya Nila McCall, was discovered Sunday after her mother called the sheriff's department and reported her missing.
Deputies made a routine search of the home and found the girl's body in a garbage bag hidden in a closet.
After an investigation, detectives arrested Carter in connection with the girl's death. Homicide detectives say they have recovered evidence tying Carter to the killing.
According to the coroner, Mireya was killed by "sharp-force trauma to the neck."
Mireya lived in the residence in the 1100 block of East Peck Street with her mother and uncle. Deputies say they believe the mother was at home at the time of the girl's killing, but did not know what was going on.
The little girl was described as a happy child, often seen playing and singing on the street and had just graduated from kindergarten.
Neighbors say Carter was raised in the church, used to have a job, dressed well and loved to dance, but his behavior changed in recent months. Lately, they noticed that he was into heavy drugs and described him as a "zombie-like" figure in the neighborhood.
Carter faces up to 26 years in state prison if convicted.
No motive for the crime has been released.
