UPDATED 11:10 a.m. The car found on a Santa Clarita truck trail has been confirmed to be that of missing Santa Clarita teen Sarah Alarid.
“It is her car and we believe there is a body inside,” said Steve Whitemore, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. public information officer.
Homicide detectives are responding.

Flyers of the missing woman have been posted around the Crescenta Valley after Alarid, 19, vanished after attending a friend’s New Year’s Eve party in Santa Clarita. She was last seen at around 3 a.m. on Jan. 1.

By Mary O’KEEFE

What appears to be a freshly dug grave has been discovered just off Big Tujunga Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest.

“It is too early to determine if a victim has been found,” said Sgt. Debra Herman, Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.

Late afternoon yesterday, Tuesday, hikers in the area alerted law enforcement of the discovery. Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies and detectives from the Crescenta Valley Station responded to the scene.

Deputies stayed on the scene throughout the night. LASD homicide bureau detectives responded this morning.

At present the area is a contained crime scene while the investigation continues.

“If the crime scene expands it is possible we will [call out] Montrose Search and Rescue,” Herman said.

Montrose Search and Rescue has been called out to assist Santa Clarita Search and Rescue concerning a car over the side of the road at Santa Clarita truck trail.

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. air bureau was assisting the Crescenta Valley sheriffs investigation in the possible shallow grave on Big Tujunga Canyon Road when they discovered the silver car, said Sgt. Nagler of the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Dept.

The search teams have not yet reached the car as of press time. There is no information as to whether the car is occupied.

Also assisting is Palmdale Search and Rescue.