Perhaps it was a message.
Inside the house on Jacumba Street in the Lomita area of San Diego lay the body of Adriana Pinon, an aspiring actress who had made several appearances on the television soap opera "The Young and the Restless." Pinon, police said, had been shot in the upper body.
In the driveway was a television set.
"We don't know why the television set was left there," said Lt. Mike Hurley.
Detectives are offering several theories regarding the discarded television set. Pinon, 18, may have been shot while surprising a burglar, they say. Or, the TV could have been left outside as a ploy to throw off investigators.
Or, police say, it could be some sort of message left by the killer. A videotape of one of her performances was missing from her house.
Police have not established a motive for the Thursday slaying, and no one has been arrested.
Pinon began appearing on the soap opera in May 2000 and filmed her most recent role on Monday. The episode will air March 1.
A CBS spokesman said Pinon had been on the show about 19 times, always in nonspeaking roles.
Associates from the show said they were shocked and saddened to hear about the slaying. Pinon was described as a talented, enthusiastic woman who was just starting her career.
Meanwhile, police are trying to track down what witnesses said was a dirty, dark-colored, midsize car seen in the driveway the afternoon of the slaying. Pinon's mother discovered her daughter's body about 5:30 p.m.
Police would not say if the house had been ransacked. They also would not comment on whether the woman had recently broken up or was involved in a relationship.
Family members were too distraught to talk yesterday. Neighbors described the woman as friendly and outgoing.
A memorial of flowers and lighted religious candles started taking shape on a sidewalk outside the stucco home yesterday morning.
Joe Hughes: (619) 542-4591; joe.hughes@uniontrib.com
