10:32 PM PST on Monday, November 24, 2003

By ELISA HAHN / KING 5 News

SEATTLE – A teenage girl’s body was found Sunday night in Discovery Park near Emerson Street in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood and two other teenagers have been arrested for killing her.

Police marked off the trailhead leading into the park in the early Monday morning hours, but were waiting until daylight hours to fully investigate the crime scene.

Police have not yet released the victim’s name, but they believe she is a girl in her early to mid-teens.

Police said they were acting on a tip when they searched an area near the 3-mile loop trail.

KING Police found the body after receiving a tip.

Monday night, two teenagers were arrested for the murder – a 16-year-old female and a 19-year-old male who was convicted of theft and pleaded guilty to attempted theft and robbery last year.

"Our investigation shows all the parties know each other. The two suspects were acquainted with the victim. It was in no way a random crime. There was a pre-existing relationship there,” said Nollette.

In the early morning hours Monday, detectives searched the crime scene and the victim’s body was taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office who is checking the victim’s fingerprints for identification.

Police are not ready to name a motive. The Medical Examiner’s Office hopes to release the name of the victim on Tuesday.

The crime scene was a disturbing site in the park, which is a favorite with joggers and families.

Discovery Park is a large park, almost a square mile in size, and includes the Fort Lawton military station and several hiking trails.