Hong Tu Phuong, 57

[Update, Aug. 27, 2014: Hong Tu Phuong, a 57-year-old Asian woman, was found dead Friday, May 20, 2011, in the 9400 block of Cortada Street in El Monte, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

John Taylor Huynh, the woman's son, told police he killed his mother sometime in 2001. Phuong had been stabbed to death. Her body was found wrapped in a sheet in a shallow grave in the backyard of the condominium she and Huynh shared.

The coroner originally identified Phuong as Jane Doe No. 25.

-- Los Angeles Times Staff

This post was originally published May 23, 2011:]

A 57-year-old Asian woman, identified by the coroner only as Jane Doe #25, was found dead Friday, May 20, in the 9400 block of Cortada Street in El Monte, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

A man walked into the Alhambra Police Department early Friday and told officers they would find human remains buried in the backyard of a residence, said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

Alhambra police relayed the information to the Sheriff's Department, which asked the county coroner's Special Operations Recovery Team to check out the tip, Whitmore said. After digging at the location, the team found the woman's remains about 3:15 p.m., he said.

The man was arrested and taken into custody on suspicion of murder. Sheriff's officials are not releasing the name of the suspect because they have not yet identified the remains or notified the next of kin, Whitmore said.

The man is being held on $1-million bail. Whitmore said the remains appear to be "a number of years old."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477).

-- Catherine Saillant