LOS ANGELES -- The body of a nude woman found in a remote area of the Angeles National Forest was identified today as that of a 31-year-old nurse who was abducted while driving to work at Pacoima Hospital.
The body of Melanie Uribe was found in Lopez Canyon Wednesday night but police and the coroner were unable to identify her until today.
Police posted a night-long vigil in the canyon, deciding not to remove the body until after daybreak to preserve evidence.
Miss Uribe was kidnapped Monday night while driving her late model pickup truck to work.
pickup 4thgraf: Lt.
Police said they could not positively identify the remains as those of Melanie Uribe, a registered nurse who reportedly was kidnapped Monday night while driving her late model pickup truck to work.
Lt. William Gaida said the fire department found the truck Tuesday morning in Pacoima. It had been deliberately set afire.
A citizen called police at 10:45 p.m. Monday and reported seeing two men force their way into a truck as it was stopped for a red light. The vehicle matched the description of Miss Uribe's, Gaida said.
The witness said a woman screamed for help before one of the men gained control of the pickup and drove away.
Gaida would not diclose who found the body or whether there was a nurse's uniform there.
Miss Uribe's roommate said the 5-foot-2-inch blonde was wearing a white uniform, leather jacket and brown sweater when she left their apartment to go to work.
The rugged terrain around Pacoima is the same area where 7-year-old Lisa Rosales was found dead last week. Police said they did not know if there was a connection between the child's death and the nurse's apparent murder.
