Tucson teenager found dead in desert was murdered

TUCSON, AZ (AP) - Authorities say a teenage Tucson girl found dead in the desert four months ago was murdered.

The Pima County Medical Examiner's Office didn't release the cause of death for 13-year-old Maribel Victoria Gonzales.

The autopsy report was released Friday and the cause of her death was redacted.

County Sheriff's officials say the case is still active and release of the information could be harmful to the investigation.

Gonzales' body was found June 6 in the desert northwest of Tucson.

She was last seen about 8 p.m. on June 3 when she told her mother she was going to a friend's house.

When Gonzales didn't return by morning, her mother called the friend and learned she never arrived.

Because of decomposition, DNA tests were done before Gonzales could be positively identified.