Manteca Woman's Family Looking For Who Killed Her, Left Her In Trash

MANTECA (CBS13) — The family of a Manteca woman whose body was found in a dumpster is speaking out and searching for her killer.

Kelly Marelich, 22, was found over the weekend near a strip mall on South Main Street in Manteca.

The once-honor student at Stanislaus State was killed over the weekend and left in a dumpster.

Her mother Gloria and her father Steve and the rest of her family were stunned, and left wondering who would toss their daughter in the trash.

"This is so senseless," said Steve Marelich. "There is no rhyme or reason. Take the car, whatever. Those are things we can replace. We will never ever replace her."

Police are tight-lipped about their investigation, saying they are following leads, one of which led them to serve a search warrant at a motel.

Police say they believe Kelly was at the Moffat Boulevard motel just before her death, and may have been killed there as well. What led to her death isn't being disclosed.

Meanwhile, a family waits for justice for a woman who wanted to help others as a social worker.

"This is obviously a person that is a danger to society, and needs to be off the street, period," said Marelich.

A camera is situated right above the dumpster where Kelly was found, but it's not clear if police were able to get leads from that video.

A $1,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest.