Rita Joanne Moreno, 73 [Updated]

Rita Joanne Moreno, a 73-year-old Latina, died Friday, Feb. 16, in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Updated March 18, 2010:

The Times looked into Moreno's three-year-old case after a reader contacted the Homicide Report to ask that Moreno's post be removed, saying her death was not a homicide.

However, coroner’s officials said they determined Moreno’s death was a homicide less than a week after she died. The autopsy found indications of beatings and neglect, officials said. As a result, Moreno's case was referred to Long Beach police.

Sgt. Keith Gregrow of the Elder Abuse Unit and homicide Dets. Teryl Hubert and Russ Moss were assigned to investigate. Hubert said they presented their findings to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office, as well as a possible suspect in Moreno’s death. In July 2007,  prosecutors informed police that they had declined to pursue charges in the case, Hubert said.

The coroner's determination of homicide -- which is not a legal finding but rather an indication that death was caused at the hand of another --  stands.

-- Sarah Ardalani