Dallas police are investigating the murder of a 5-year-old girl whose body was found in a vacant apartment Sunday afternoon at the Sontera Palms Apartments at 9505 Royal Lane in northeast Dallas.
Dallas police said Kathrine Alejandra Gonzalez turned 5 Aug. 24.
Police discovered her body inside an empty, ground-floor apartment at 2:30 p.m. Sunday – several hours after the girl was reported missing.
Many neighbors said they worked to help find the little girl even before police were called at about 11:30 a.m.
When police arrived, maintenance workers informed them there were a large number of vacant apartments at Sontera Palms. After obtaining a key, officers began what they described as a systematic search of all vacant units – eventually discovering the girl’s body inside a unit at the back of the complex.
Witnesses said the girl’s relatives were visibly distraught after learning of the girl’s death.
Police said they took several people to Dallas Police Headquarters for questioning, but have not reported any arrests in the case.
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NBC 5's Frank Heinz contributed to this report.