What we know about the death of an 8-year-old girl whose body was found inside Bakersfield motel room

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The death of 8-year-old Genesis Mata reveals more about the little girl and her life, as well as new details on the case.“Cases like this are especially tragic, especially when you’re dealing with juvenile victims and some of the most innocent in our community,” said Bakersfield Police Assistance Chief Brent Stratton.

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Genesis Mata was set to start second grade at Pauly Elementary next week. She loved to dance, her grandmother said at a vigil Sunday night outside of the Riverside Drive motel room where her body was found.

“She loved music. She loved everything, she loved people, she was a light, kind, so polite,” said Ruth Mata.

Genesis was found dead in a tub inside a locked bathroom of a room of the La Quinta Inn on Riverside Drive on Saturday evening…

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