By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2024 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police are seeking tips to identify the killer of a homeless woman, 52, last night. Officers responded to a 9-1-1 call at 10:33 p.m. reporting an  unconscious woman with a serious head injury inside a solo encampment in the 8000 block of High Street in La Mesa. 

“Responding officers found the female and sought to render first aid, but unfortunately the victim was deceased,” says Sergeant Jose Gaytan.  A white male adult with a beard was seen leaving the area a few hours prior to the initial call and is a person of interest, but there is no further description.

“Initial information gathered by investigators revealed the victim, a 62-year-old white female known to be homeless in the La Mesa area, was inside her encampment when the attack occurred. Evidence at the scene indicates that the attack likely occurred within hours of the victim being discovered," Sgt. Gaytan says.