Missing Oregon Teen Found Dead Under 'Suspicious Circumstances' In Park

KEY POINTS

Li was last seen at her apartment Sunday evening
The park where her body was found is less than a mile from the girl’s home
Cops said the circumstances surrounding her death were suspicious

A 13-year-old girl from Beaverton, Oregon, last seen at her home Sunday, was found dead at a nearby park Tuesday. Milana Li's body was spotted in a small stream near the Westside Trail in Westside Linear Park under "suspicious circumstances."

Li's mother reported her missing around 1:10 p.m. Monday. The sixth-grader was last seen at her apartment near the intersection of Southwest Murray Boulevard and Southwest Scholls Ferry Road Sunday evening, reported Oregon Live.

The Beaverton police were called Tuesday afternoon after Li's body was found at Westside Linear Park. The park is less than a mile from the girl’s home. Officers immediately established a crime scene and launched an investigation into the teen's death.

Aadil Mohamed, a resident, told KPTV that he saw like "a bevy of cops in a circle, who seemed like they were doing a search." "I was very surprised to see all the police here. I had to connect the dots. They were being very quiet about it all but it was very surprising," he added.

Police initially described Li as a "runaway." In the search alert, they said Li's first language was Russian, but she spoke some English, a second language she "struggled with." Her mother had also told the police she had a cell phone but was likely turned off. The mother added that Li was not familiar with TriMet.

Conestoga Middle School community, where Li was a sixth-grade student, also mourned her death. In an email, principal Zan Hess said "our hearts break for Milana’s loved ones, including her family and friends. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts tonight." Hess said extra counselors will be at the school to support students and staff.

Beaverton police said the circumstances surrounding the girl's death were suspicious and that it will be investigated. Authorities ask anyone with information to call Detective Cindy Herring at 503-526-2280.

In a similar incident, a teen from Nevada was recently found dead in a remote rural gravesite within the same state. Naomi Irion, 18, disappeared outside a Walmart in Fernley, outside Reno, on March 12. Surveillance footage showed a man getting into the driver's seat of her car and driving in an unknown direction with the teen in the passenger seat.