District Attorney Files Formal Murder Charges on Mother of Trinity Love Jones

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Taquesta Graham, the 28-year-old mother of the 9-year-old girl murdered and dumped near a Hacienda Heights Equestrian Trail has been charged with murder.

On March 5, 2019, workers at a Hacienda Heights park made the shocking discovery of a small child stuffed inside a black duffel bag tossed near an equestrian trail. The child’s fully dressed body was inside the bag, while her head stuck out of the bag. There was no clear indication of who the child was or her cause of death, but due to how she was found, it was certain that she did not get there alone.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department put out a bulletin with a drawing of the small girl who was only 4’5” tall and 55 pounds. Also shared was her clothing she was found wearing. Days passed with no positive identification of the child. Several felt the similarities with another girl who was missing from Lancaster was worth looking into. Los Angeles County Sheriff officials confirmed it was not the missing girl.

On Friday, March 8, 2019, the community set up a memorial for the child where she was found. People stating that they were the girl’s family identified her as Trinity Love Jones. The mother’s boyfriend, Emiel Hunt, 38, was arrested on Saturday, March 9, 2019, when he was located sleeping in a vehicle near the San Diego Airport. The car living was later learned to be the norm for Graham, Hunt, and Trinity. For the 10 months prior to her death, they were living in their vehicle or in motel rooms. Employees at a La Mirada Fitness Club told 24/7 Headline News reporters that the mother, Emiel, and Trinity used to use their facility to shower often.

Emiel Hunt was charged with Murder by the District Attorney’s office just days later. On March 8, 2019, Graham was detained for an unrelated warrant, but was booked for murder on Monday, March 18, 2019. Hunt served 12 years in jail for the torture and abuse of his 3-year-old son beginning in 2005. Graham was also no stranger to the legal system with a conviction of enticing a 16-year-old girl into prostitution in San Bernardino County in 2016. On Wednesday, March 20, 2019, Graham was charged with the murder of Trinity Love Jones, her daughter. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office stated that Trinity was murdered on or around March 1, 2019. Graham is set for arraignment at the Pomona Superior Court on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, for one count of murder.

If convicted as charged, Graham will serve up to 26 years to live in prison while Hunt faces up to 55 years to life in prison.

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