Suspect held in death of 12-year-old Mercedez Layne

A 26-year-old Palo Seco man is in police custody as investigators continue probing the circumstances surrounding the death of 12-year-old Mercedez Layne, whose body was discovered in Erin on Sunday morning, just hours after she was reported missing.

Police say Mercedez, of Los Iros Beach Road, Erin, was reported missing at approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday by her grandfather, who lives at Lorensotte North Trace, Rancho Quemado.

The child had reportedly spent the previous night at her grandfather’s home.

Around 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, he placed her into a vehicle that was expected to take her home to Los Iros. However, she never arrived at her destination.

Concerned relatives reported the matter to the Erin Police Station, prompting officers to launch an immediate missing person investigation.

Investigators, led by Sgt Jaglal, carried out extensive enquiries throughout the night. Acting on information received and after reviewing CCTV footage, officers identified the vehicle in which Mercedez had last been seen travelling.

At approximately 1 am on Sunday, the vehicle was found abandoned along Beach Road in Palo Seco. Police photographed and processed the vehicle before conveying it to the Erin Police Station as part of the investigation.

Hours later, around 6.43 am, an employee of an oil company reportedly went to inspect a well along Carapal Road, Erin. While travelling along a well access road, the worker discovered the body of a young female lying face down.

The discovery was immediately reported to police, who responded and later confirmed that the deceased was the missing child.

Senior officers, along with investigators from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, visited the scene and launched extensive forensic and investigative enquiries.

As the investigation progressed, officers detained a 26-year-old man from Palo Seco in connection with the case. He remains in police custody while enquiries continue.