Victim Identified, Murder Charge Filed in Yorba Linda Stabbing

A 35-year-old man was charged Thursday with murder in the stabbing death of a 17-year-old girl whose family said had dreams of being a lawyer but may have been a victim of sex trafficking.

Larry Soo Shin, of Yorba Linda, was charged with the special circumstances murder of lying in wait in the death of Aubreyanna Sade Parks, of Gardena, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Her body was found by a bicyclist Tuesday morning near Deodar and Live Oak drives (map) in the northeastern Orange County community.

Shin faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole, if convicted, prosecutors said. He's jailed without bail.

Neighbors told authorities they heard someone scream about 5 a.m., but details regarding her slaying were not available.

The girl's family members, who spoke with NBC4 but did not want to be identified, said the victim was outgoing and loved life until, her family believes, she was forced into sex trafficking.

"She wasn't running away from home. She wasn't a prostitute," Parks' relative said, adding that the teen was a straight-A student "her whole entire life."

Investigators have not determined the relationship between the victim and suspect, according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Parks has a prior arrest on suspicion of prostitution, according to the sheriff's department.

Shin contacted Parks early Tuesday and asked her to meet him in Yorba Linda, prosecutors said.

When she arrived, Shin allegedly stabbed her and left her body on the residential street, authorities said.

A few weeks ago, Parks was taken by police to a safe shelter while police went after the man they suspected of being her pimp, Marsalis Smith.

But somehow Parks walked out of the shelter and her body was found Tuesday.

Smith faces charges of sex trafficking through and intimidation of a minor. Police have not yet linked his case with that of Shin.