California Missing Child Jadianna Larsen’s Body Discovered, Mother’s Boyfriend Arrested

She was turning 7-years old this fall, and now one California family is dealing with the grief of losing an innocent child. On Thursday, Sacramento police received a call from a man identified as Juan Rivera, 25. Rivera told dispatchers he suffered a medical issue that knocked him unconscious, and when he came to, his girlfriend’s 6-year old daughter, Jadianna Larsen, was missing. Teams were immediately dispatched as the community joined forces to find the darling, brown-eyed girl.

Search and rescue teams went door-to-door with a photo of Jadianna, asking neighbors if she looked familiar. As Thursday turned into Friday, police felt the story was patchy at best from Rivera. Where could have the loving 6-year old disappeared to?

The search came to a halt when Sacramento received devastating news. Miles away, volunteer firefighters for Glenn County had distinguished a fire on Thursday morning along County Road D. There firefighters had made a grueling discovery. A suitcase was found with a small, burned body inside. An investigation was launched, as officials waited for results to identify the female body which appeared to be between 5 to 10 years old.

Sacramento officials confirmed the identity of little Jadianna.

At Martin Luther King, Jr., the apartment complex where Jadianna lived with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, residents shared their grief and thoughts on the little, happy girl who rode her blue bicycle with pink wheels.

Friends and family said Jadianna’s mother had been away for several days in a rehabilitation program. The extent of her medical issue was not shared due to privacy laws. The complex where the young girl lived with her mother includes supportive housing to assist those on disability, and people who once endured homelessness. One neighbor shared Jadianna would called Rivera “daddy,” and never considered he would be the man behind the murder of such a beautiful, little girl.

Soon a memorial began taking place at the small plot of land where Jadianna’s body was discovered. Those at the complex have placed flowers, teddy bears and notes of love at the gate in remembrance of the young girl.

Police have not released details regarding what may have happened in the home, leading to the tragic death of Jadianna.

Rivera was placed under arrest said Sgt. Lisa Bowman of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. The homicide investigation will continue to hopefully determine and answer several questions:

• Jadianna had not been in school for several days, was there any notification from the mother to the district or vice-versa?
• Many of Jadianna’s relatives lived at the complex, was there any indication of child abuse noticed or any previous notifications?
• Rivera said he last saw Jadianna at 11am Thursday morning, and yet he did not call 911 until 8:30pm to report her missing.

The devastated family wants answers from Rivera, who is currently in jail without bond.