Boyfriend Sought in Slaying of 13-Year-Old

The boyfriend of a 13-year-old girl who was found shot to death early Sunday in an apartment the two shared in Lancaster is being sought for her slaying, authorities said Tuesday.

Santino “Sonny” Casio, a 20-year-old parolee, allegedly shot Evelyn Brenda Cendejas in the head following an argument late Saturday night, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Myers.

Police believe Cendejas ran away from home in Palmdale and moved into a duplex apartment in the 1100 block of West Avenue H-14 with Casio in April.

“We didn’t know where she was staying,” said Cendejas’ cousin, Robert Mendez, 19. “She would call just to let us know that she was all right.”

The last time the family heard from Cendejas was Mother’s Day, Mendez said.

Casio was described as 5 foot 9, weighing 190 pounds, with a shaved head and brown eyes. He has a tattoo of a paw print on the back of his head and tattoo horns at his front hairline, said Lt. Dan Rosenberg of the sheriff’s homicide bureau. He is currently on parole from the California Youth Authority for burglary, Rosenberg said.

“How can this happen to a 13-year-old girl?” said Cendejas’ 26-year-old brother, who declined to give his first name. “She’s my baby sister. We’re trying to do everything we can to make sure that this person is caught and justice is served.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the county sheriff’s homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500.