MONUMENT, Colo.—Investigators on Wednesday continued to search for a couple who had custody of a girl whose body was found in a vacant home near Colorado Springs.
The body of 9-year-old Genesis Sims was found May 14 in the crawl space of a vacant town house in Monument by construction workers doing renovations. Authorities confirmed the identity of the body Tuesday but have been searching for her father, Hanif Sims, and his girlfriend, Monique Lynch, since her body was discovered.
Sims and Lynch lived in the townhome 1 1/2 years ago and moved out in early 2009. Authorities believe they lived in the Union Rescue Mission homeless shelter in Los Angeles from March until December 2009 and that they’re still in the area.
Since the body was discovered, El Paso County sheriff’s investigators have traveled to California and the couple’s home state of New Jersey.
A warrant was issued for Hanif Sims on child abuse and second-degree assault charges on June 4 as part of the investigation, El Paso County sheriff’s Lt. Lari Sevene said. The warrant was sealed and Sevene said she couldn’t provide any other details about it.
A couple claiming to be Hanif Sims and Monique Lynch told KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs that they found Genesis unconscious in the bathroom and hid her body after having a ceremony with prayers and flowers. The station said that the couple called the station Monday, saying they wanted to give their side of the story before turning themselves in. The station said it confirmed their identity using details from its investigation into the case.
The woman claiming to be Lynch said the couple moved Genesis to a bed and tried giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She said they decided to bury her in the crawl space two days later.
