Mother of nine-year-old whose body was found in duffel bag in California has been ‘arrested’

California police have detained the mother of a nine-year-old girl, who was found stuffed in a duffel bag along a trail in California, and charged her boyfriend with murder in connection to the child’s death. 

Two people were taken into custody over the weekend. Family members identified one of those individuals as Taquesta Graham, 28, the mother of Trinity Love Jones, whose body was found partially inside a duffel bag.

The little girl was wearing what appeared to be pajamas, with her top holding the message ‘future princess hero’. 

On Tuesday, authorities charged Graham’s boyfriend, Emiel Hunt, with murder. He was also taken into custody over the weekend, according to Trinity’s family. 

  

California police have detained Taquesta Graham, 28, the mother of nine-year-old, Trinity Love Jones, who was found stuffed in a duffel bag. Her boyfriend, Emiel Hunt (both pictured), was charged with the child’s murder on Tuesday, police said  

According to online records, Graham is a registered sex offender. Graham was convicted in 2009 of enticing a minor female for prostitution

Family members are demanding to know why Trinity (pictured) was allowed to be in Graham's custody

Graham (left) is a registered sex offender. She was convicted in 2009 of enticing a minor female for prostitution. Records show that she was released in 2016. Family members are demanding to know why Trinity (right) was allowed to be in Graham’s custody

Authorities have not confirmed that Hunt and Graham are the persons of interest in custody, but family members have

Authorities have not confirmed that Hunt and Graham are the persons of interest in custody, but family members have 

Graham was put in jail on an unrelated warrant. 

Hunt, 38, faces arraignment Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pomona.

Prosecutors say Hunt has a previous child abuse conviction from 2005 in San Diego County.

A family member told KTLA that ‘we need justice’. 

‘We need to figure it out. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this to no one. Everybody deserves an answer,’ the relative said. 

The family members are also demanding to know why Trinity was allowed to be in Graham’s custody since she’s a registered sex offender.  

Trinity Love Jones

Police would not comment on whether there were any items found in the bag along with the body

Trinity’s body was found inside a duffel bag. The little girl was wearing what appeared to be pajamas, with her top holding the message ‘future princess hero’

According to online records, Graham was convicted in 2009 of enticing a minor female for prostitution. She was released in 2016. 

She received a suspended prison term, time served in jail and probation. The charges against her involved a minor under the age of 16.  

The gruesome discovery was made by county workers on a horse riding trail in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles County last Tuesday. 

The charges against Graham involved a minor under the age of 16

The charges against Graham involved a minor under the age of 16

The death has been ruled as a homicide, but the cause of Trinity’s death has been withheld.

Relatives of the nine-year-old gathered at the site where her body was found for a candle lit vigil on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, Trinity’s father, Antonio Jones, said he had just found out about his daughter’s death earlier that day. 

Jones said his daughter was ‘just the best’. 

‘Full of character, full of life, full of joy. Words can’t explain what I’m feeling right now,’ he said. 

‘I just want answers. I just want justice,’ he added.

The scene was covered in colorful memorials and a picture of the youngster was added by family members. 

The motive for Trinity’s murder is not known at this time. Graham and Hunt are being held on a $2million bond each.

If convicted, Hunt faces a sentence of up to 50 years to life in state prison. Hunt was in custody and could not be reached for comment. 

This sketch was provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as they worked to identify the young girl found in the duffel bag. She was later identified as Trinity

A bag like the one Trinity was found in

This sketch was provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as they worked to identify the young girl found in the duffel bag (right). She was later identified as Trinity

Relatives of the nine-year-old gathered at the site where her body was found for a candle lit vigil on Sunday

Relatives of the nine-year-old gathered at the site where her body was found for a candle lit vigil on Sunday 

County workers doing maintenance on the trail found Trinity's body around 10am last Tuesday

County workers doing maintenance on the trail found Trinity’s body around 10am last Tuesday 

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