Crime & Safety
El Cerrito Police Need Help Identifying Body
The woman's body was found in an abandoned restaurant following a fire. Authorities believe she was homeless.
EL CERRITO, CA — El Cerrito police are asking for help identifying a woman who was found early Tuesday badly burned in an abandoned restaurant that caught fire, police said Wednesday.
Police were flagged down at 12:11 a.m. about a fire at an abandoned Taco Bell at 11965 San Pablo Ave. The fire was extinguished in a few minutes by firefighters and an inspection of the area revealed the remains of the woman.
Police believe she was homeless and staying in the building for shelter.
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Police said the woman died from a medical condition and not from the fire. The remains indicate the woman was African-American and possibly in her mid-30s. She had birthed children, police said.
Anyone who can help is asked to call the detective unit of the El Cerrito Police Department at 510-215-4400 or email them at investigations@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us. You may also call the Contra Costa County coroner's office at 925-313-2850. Refer to case No. 2020-1191.
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