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Crime & Safety

East Valley News: Missing Girl Sought; Man Charged in Girlfriend's Homicide

Here are some of the top stories around the East San Fernando Valley today.

Editor's note: These are Police/Fire stories from areas around the San Fernando Valley east of the 405 freeway not covered by Patch. Check North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Patch, Studio City Patch and Sherman Oaks Patch for new in those areas.

Van Nuys

The following message was sent out via text alert by the LAPD Van Nuys Division:

Find out what's happening in North Hollywood-Toluca Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The family of Nicole Jacqueline Hernandez and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) are asking for the public’s help in locating Nicole, who was last seen on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at about 7:30 a.m., when she was dropped off at Vista Middle School, 15040 Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys.

Nicole is in good health and may have been upset after a disagreement with her mother over a relationship with an older boy.

Nicole is a female Hispanic, 12 years old, with shoulder length black hair, brown eyes, 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 107 pounds with a slim build. She was wearing a black sweater and blue jeans and black shoes. She does have a pierced right lower lip.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Nicole Hernandez is urged to contact LAPD Mission Division at (818) 838-9800. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts. REF DR 12-1910834
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Instructions:

Find out what's happening in North Hollywood-Toluca Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Nicole Hernandez is urged to contact LAPD Mission Division at (818) 838-9800. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).

For full details, view this message on the web.

Message Details Severity:Unknown - Severity unknown Urgency:Unknown - Urgency not known Certainty:Observed - Determined to have occurred or to be ongoing Category:Law enforcement, military, homeland and local/private security Event Description:Missing Person

Van Nuys

A 21-year-old man was charged today with murdering his girlfriend at her Reseda apartment in February.

James Howard Jr. was scheduled to be arraigned today in Van Nuys Superior Court in connection with the slaying of Sharilit Matthews.

Authorities said the woman's family and friends contacted police after not being able to contact the 41-year-old woman for about a week.

Officers found Matthews in her bed. She had been dead for about a week, according to Deputy District Attorney Nancy Yaghoubian.

The criminal complaint alleges that Howard personally used a deadly and dangerous weapon -- a sharp instrument -- in the killing and that he has a 2010 robbery conviction in Los Angeles County.

If convicted, he faces up to 26 years to life in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

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