Hunt for suspect in girl's stabbing death

SAN FRANCISCO -- Police officers were stationed outside an elementary school yesterday as authorities searched for a man suspected of stabbing an 8-year-old girl to death in a small California town.

For the safety of students, Calaveras County deputies patrolled Jenny Lind Elementary School in Valley Springs, as classmates of victim Leila Fowler were greeted by instructors as they somberly returned to school.

Grief counselors were also expected to be available at the school, where a class of sixth-graders placed ribbons outside to remember Fowler, a third-grader.

"It's scary," student Marilou Sandoval said. "You never know what kind of people are out there."

Authorities said Leila was fatally stabbed on Saturday at her home in Valley Springs during an apparent break-in. The girl was found by her 12-year-old brother who told deputies that he had encountered a male intruder in the home.

On Sunday, door-to-door sweeps proved fruitless as authorities urged residents to lock their doors and watch streets and yards for the suspect, whose description was vague.

"A lot of us here are used to keeping our doors unlocked, our cars unlocked and I'm sure a lot of families last night locked all of their windows, locked all of their doors for the first time," said Connie Brodie, who lives in nearby Rancho Calaveras.

The manhunt has been joined by the sheriff's departments of Calaveras and surrounding counties, California Highway Patrol and state Department of Justice. Sheriff's officials say investigators collected fingerprints and what they believe is DNA from the home.

"This is way too close to home," said Julia Poland, who took her 13-year-old daughter to a news conference on the search. "This kind of thing does not happen here."