Sheriffs respond to the site of a possible grave and the discovery of a missing Santa Clarita teen.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Authorities have identified the body found in the Angeles National Forest on Wednesday as that of missing 19-year-old Sarah Alarid.

Early Wednesday morning, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Air Bureau reported finding a silver car in a ravine on the Santa Clarita Truck Trail, said Sgt. Nagler, Santa Clarita Sheriff’s.

The air unit was in the area assisting with another investigation on Big Tujunga Canyon Road when they made the discovery.

Search and Rescue units from Montrose and Palmdale were called to assist Santa Clarita Search and Rescue. The vehicle was down a long ravine and the body was discovered several yards away.

The car was registered to Alarid, said Steve Whitmore, LASD spokesman.

Authorities on the scene identified the body as Alarid’s. The cause of death had not been determined as of press time.

Alarid was reported missing in the early morning hours of Jan. 1 after leaving a party in the Shadow Pines area of Canyon Country, Santa Clarita. She reportedly left the party, alone, in her 2002 silver Ford Focus. Family and friends went door-to-door handing flyers to residents and businesses.

According to authorities, there does not appear to be any sign of foul play. It appears to be a tragic traffic accident. The investigation will be handed over to the California Highway Patrol as an accident.

The investigation the Air Bureau was assisting concerned a possible freshly dug grave that had been discovered off Big Tujunga Canyon Road late in the afternoon on Tuesday.

Hikers in the area alerted law enforcement of the discovery. Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies and detectives from the Crescenta Valley Station responded and stayed on the scene throughout the night. LASD homicide bureau detectives responded Tuesday morning.

There was a blood trail, but no evidence of remains, said Lt. Mike Rossen.

During the investigation clothes and bones were found. It appears the bones were from some type of animal, which could be linked to some type of ritual, authorities said.

LASD homicide is being cautious and treating the area as a crime scene. The investigation is ongoing.

The day of reports of a possible discovery of a missing person set the family of Megan DiPiazza, 33, on another emotional rollercoaster.

Stepfather Bobby Alexander jumps on every story, especially those of a car over the side of the road. It is a horrible waiting game that has family and friends of the missing woman constantly searching the Internet for any information. When Alexander heard the car was silver he thought maybe it was Megan, whose vehicle is gray.

Upon hearing of the body’s discovery and identification, his heart went out to the Alarid family knowing far too well what they had been going through as they waited for word about their loved one.

Megan went missing on Nov. 11 after an argument with her husband. There was a goodbye note found in her apartment that appeared to be written before the argument, Alexander said.

GPD are investigating but have determined Megan as a voluntary missing person, meaning she left on her own accord. Alexander and his wife Sue do not believe that and are very concerned that she has not yet been found. They continue to use social media to share her photo and story hoping that someone who knows something of her whereabouts will come forward.

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact Sgt. Jeff Newton at (818) 548-3987 or (818) 548-4840. Megan’s vehicle is a 2013 gray Toyota Scion, the plate number is 6XJR885, but it may not have any plates on it. She is described as 33 years old with blonde hair and green eyes, is 5’6” tall and weighs about 122 pounds.

  Brandon Hensley, Mary Okeefe