Woman shot to death at Atlanta cemetery identified as 20-year-old Utah woman
The Brief
Atlanta police have identified the woman found shot on Easter Sunday near Crest Lawn Memorial Park as 20-year-old Angela Yajahira Cortes Villegas of Utah.
Villegas was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds; distinctive tattoos initially released by police may have helped confirm her identity.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta anonymously.
ATLANTA - Atlanta police have identified the tattooed woman found shot to death on Easter Sunday in a wooded area near Crest Lawn Memorial Park. Authorities say the victim is 20-year-old Angela Yajahira Cortes Villegas of Utah.
What we know
Villegas was discovered just before 6 p.m. on April 20 in the 2000 block of Marietta Boulevard NW after officers responded to reports of an unresponsive person. She had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Initially, investigators sought the public's help to identify the young woman by releasing photos of her distinctive tattoos: an eye on her right wrist, a treble clef and music note on her left wrist, and a bird with a flower on her left thigh. Police have not said whether those tattoos helped confirm her identity.
"This young lady deserves to have someone who knows where she is," said Terrie Nelson with Crest Lawn, who noted that a death like this is unheard of in the cemetery's history.
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Unknown woman found shot to death at Atlanta cemetery, employees react
New photo released of unknown woman found shot to death near Atlanta cemetery
What's next
The investigation remains active and ongoing. While police have not released any information about potential suspects, employees at the cemetery reported previous troubling encounters with an unknown man in recent months. Staff described him as belligerent, saying he disrupted a service, spat on a grieving family member, and made threats toward workers. It's unclear if this man is connected to the homicide.
What you can do
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at (404) 577-8477 or visit www.stopcrimeatl.org. Callers can remain anonymous.
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