Search resumes at Calif. landfill for body of pregnant teenager; boyfriend charged with murder

Boyfriend charged with killing pregnant Calif teen

FONTANA, Calif. — An 18-year-old California man has been charged with murdering his pregnant girlfriend, and police continue to search a landfill for her body.

The San Bernardino County district attorney’s office on Monday charged Jesus Avitia Jr., of Fontana, with murdering 17-year-old Anyssia Escamilla and her fetus. She was three months pregnant.

Avitia remained jailed Tuesday. A spokeswoman for the district attorney says she doesn’t know whether Avitia has a lawyer.

Escamilla vanished about two weeks ago. Police Sgt. Billy Green says Avitia told investigators he killed her and put her in a trash can.

Green says Avitia was unhappy about the pregnancy.

Authorities resumed their search for Escamilla’s body at a Rialto landfill Tuesday after failing to find anything a day earlier.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

FONTANA, Calif. (AP) — California police are searching a landfill for the body of a pregnant high school student who vanished two weeks ago and may have been killed by her boyfriend.

Investigators dug through debris Monday at Mid-Valley Landfill in Rialto.

Police Sgt. Billy Green says the boyfriend of 18-year-old Anyssia Escamilla told investigator he killed her in Fontana and put her body in a trash can. Trash from Fontana was taken to the landfill.

Eighteen-year-old Jesus Avitia Jr. was arrested Friday and remained jailed Monday without bail.

Escamilla was reported missing May 11 after she failed to return home from high school.

Police say Escamilla was three months’ pregnant with Avitia’s child. She also had a 3-year-old son.