An 81-year-old woman was found dead in what authorities said appears to be a home invasion robbery in Woodland Hills.
The woman has been identified by police as 81-year-old Ok Ja Kim. Detectives believe she was killed in a home invasion and robbery, but also said there were signs of a small fire inside the home.
A cause of death was yet to be determined.
Around 7:40 p.m. Tuesday officers responded to a call of a dead body in the 20800 block of Martha Street in Woodland Hills. When the officers arrived on the scene they noticed evidence of a forced entry and located a woman semi-charred and unconscious in a bedroom.
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LA Fire Department pronounced her dead at the scene.
"It’s heartbreaking, and we’re going to do everything we can to solve this," said LAPD Detective Sharon Kim. "Anybody who might know anything, who knows somebody who may know anything, I’m really asking for the public’s help on this one because that might be the only way we’re going to solve this."
Authorities are investigating any possible surveillance cameras in the area that might have captured what led to this incident.
There is no suspect information at this time as police continue to investigate.
Anyone with additional information is urged to call Detective Steve Castro, Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Bureau Homicide, at (818) 374-1925.
