Officers responding to a domestic violence call Tuesday evening found the body of a transgender woman -- identified as a member of a reality web series cast -- inside a Fontana apartment.
The body was discovered at about 4:30 p.m. in the 7900 block of Bennett Avenue. The victim was identified as 32-year-old Domonique Newburn, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office.
Investigators "found evidence of a struggle, inside and outside," said Fontana Police Detective Rich Hunt.
The coroner's report said the victim suffered "blunt trauma."
Witnesses reported seeing a man in his late 20s or early 30s leaving the residence in the victim's car, described as a black 2004 Mercedes Benz C240 with California license plate 7AAY925.
The car was found Wednesday at Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino, some 13 miles east of where Newburn's body was found. Fontana police said it appears the car had been parked there "for some time."
"There was nobody inside the passenger area of the vehicle and it was towed to the crime lab to be processed for evidence," the department said in a news release.
Newburn had just completed a shoot for the relaunch of the reality web series "Hollywood House Boys," according to the series' executive producer. Production was temporarily halted after four episodes in 2010.
The producer described Newburn as a "dear friend."
The series' creator, Ryan Hope, issued a statement in which he described Newburn as an "amazing person."
The statement read, "We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of our sister, Domonique Newburn. Domonique was an amazing person who's spirit transcended gender. When we set out to document or lives for reality-television, we never once wished to make headlines like this. Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences are with her family."
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