LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Detectives are investigating how two girls turned up dead in a canal in Broward County’s city of Lauderhill.
Authorities found the body of the first girl Tuesday afternoon, and then around 8:45 p.m., police said a 911 call led officers to find the body of a second girl in the water.
According to police, both victims were Black females around 10 to 13 years old.
The first victim was wearing blue jean shorts and a gray T-shirt with “Dance” in colorful letters. She was barefoot and wore her hair in twists.
“I cried. Tears were down my face,” Lawana Johnson, who lives nearby, said.
Johnson spotted the first victim in the canal behind her home around noon.
“She was face-down. I could see her feet. She didn’t have no shoes on or nothing,” Johnson said.
Police said the second victim was wearing a tan shirt and flowered pajama bottoms.
Lauderhill police Lt. Michael Santiago said the first crime scene was along Northwest 21st Street, between Northwest 56th Avenue and Northwest 59th Terrace.
The second body was found near 2201 Northwest 59th Way.
Police said this is now being treated as a homicide investigation, though it has not been determined if the two cases are related.
According to authorities, no one has come forward to report a missing child, and neither of the girls found in the canal match the criteria for any current missing persons cases.
Officers are asking anyone with information about the case to call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
LOCATION
This is a developing story. Local 10 News Reporter Liane Morejon is on her way to the crime scene.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Nina Nahmias contributed to this report.