Abducted Pittsburgh Toddler's Death Ruled Homicide

PITTSBURGH, PA - Following an autopsy on Wednesday, a foresnic pathologist ruled that the death of Nalani Johnson was a homicide. But the official cause of death of the toddler found dead in an Indiana County park Tuesday after being abducted Saturday in Penn Hills will not be determined pending the outcome of test results.

Nalani was still in her car seat when her body was discovered in Pine Ridge Park near Blairsville, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala told the newspaper there were no signs of trauma on the child's body.

Sharena Nancy, 25, is being held in the Allegheny County Jail after being charged with kidnapping of a minor, interference with custody of children and concealment of whereabouts of a child. Additional charges could be pending.

Nalani's body was discovered hours after Nancy and Paul Johnson, Nalani's father, were romantically involved. Allegheny County Police Superintendent Coleman McDonough also disclosed that Nancy had an argument with a friend of Johnson just prior to her driving off with the girl.

Gladys Duarte, Nalani's mother, had filed a protection from abuse order against Johnson in April. In the filing, Duarte identified the two-year-old as a "protected person" and alleged Johnson had admitted to "almost killing Nalani."