Investigators Preparing Criminal Case Against Mother Of Deceased Child In Hacienda Heights Case

The mother of 9-year-old Trinity Love Jones, whose body was found partially stuffed into a duffle bag near an equestrian trail in Hacienda Heights, Calif., has been extradited to Los Angeles for questioning as investigators prepare a criminal case against her, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced on Thursday.

Taquesta Graham, Trinity’s mother, was extradited from Texas to Los Angeles on Thursday. Graham was booked at a local sheriff’s station on an unrelated warrant when she was interviewed regarding her daughter’s murder, the department’s press release noted.

Graham will remain in custody under that unrelated warrant; however, the department noted that a criminal case “is being prepared for presentation to the District Attorney’s Office on a later date.”

It was not made immediately clear what sort of charges Graham may face.

The news of Graham’s extradition comes less than a week after her boyfriend, 38-year-old Emiel Hunt, was arrested and charged with murder in connection to Trinity’s death. Hunt, who had been previously convicted of child abuse in San Diego County in 2005, is accused of killing Trinity on or around March 1.

Trinity’s body was found on Tuesday, March 5, sparking investigations as authorities worked to identify the small child.

According to the department, as they worked to positively identify trinity, unknown to them, both Hunt and Graha were stopped in Hunt’s vehicle in Texas at a border patrol checkpoint in Hudspeth County. Hunt was released and began driving back to California, while Graham was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant.

As homicide investigators went over evidence, both Graham and Hunt were identified as persons of interest and began to work to locate them for questioning.

In the meantime, Trinity’s death was ruled a homicide, although her cause of death has been withheld at this point.

In the past week, investigators have since learned that Graham, Hunt, and Trinity had moved from a family member’s home in Long Beach in May 2018. Over the past 10 months, the extended family said that they have only seen or heard from the couple and Trinity on a few occasions. According to investigators, Hunt, Graham, and Trinity were homeless just prior to the young girl being found dead and were living in a Sante Fe Springs motel, or out of their vehicle.

The department noted that there was no open or active Department of Children and Family Services involving Trinity.

As investigators work to further unravel the case, they are requesting anyone with information to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 or to provide tips anonymously through  “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477).