Missing Girl’s Body Found in Remote Area
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REDDING, Calif. — An 8-year-old Shasta Lake girl who was the subject of a police search was found dead Friday in a remote part of Shasta County, law officers in Nevada said.
Police were continuing to search for the man last seen with Clarissa Ernst at a Mt. Shasta Mall pizza parlor Wednesday.
Jeffrey Couts, 28, who works at the Sundowner Casino in Reno, was a longtime friend of the girl’s mother, Lynette Ernst, and visited regularly, authorities said.
On Wednesday night, Couts, Lynette Ernst and Clarissa drove to Redding, where Ernst works as an in-home caretaker. The mother called police after her daughter and Couts failed to return after going out for pizza.
Police discovered Couts’ abandoned vehicle Thursday on a rural road in Shasta County. They said at the time that there was nothing to indicate that there had been an accident or any signs of foul play.
The girl’s body was discovered Friday within a few miles of the vehicle about 20 miles south of Redding, Washoe County Sheriff’s Lt. Janice Lee said.
Police served a search warrant late Friday at a house in Sun Valley, Nev., where Couts rents a room.
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