Yizhu Mu, 36

Yizhu Mu, a 36-year-old Asian woman, was found dead Friday, Sept. 29, in the 16900 block of Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s investigators. 

Mu had a San Gabriel address, according to Lt. Derrick Alfred, but she had been staying at the Excelsior Hotel, also known as the Artesia Inn and Suites, for at least a week. 

A hotel maid discovered Mu’s body about 10:50 a.m. on the bed in the room, officials said. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 11 a.m., Alfred said.

Early reports indicated that Mu had been strangled, but investigators put a security hold on her autopsy results so an exact cause of death won’t be available until the investigation is finished, Alfred said. 

“It’s definitely a homicide,” the lieutenant said. “The signs of trauma lead us to believe it wasn’t a natural death.” 

Alfred said Mu had traumatic injuries and bruising to her upper body, but he wouldn’t provide further details about whether she was clothed, sexually assaulted or strangled. The hotel didn’t have any reports of noises or a struggle coming from the room, he said. 

Mu has family in San Gabriel and in Yunan, China, Alfred said. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.