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Police: No Man In Custody For Girl's Death

Mya Lyons Was Found Beaten And Stabbed To Death In A South Side Alley

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Published sources say a "person of interest" is reportedly in police custody Friday afternoon for the slaying of a 9-year-old girl found dead by her father on the South Side on Tuesday. Police say the Lyons death is still an on-going investigation.

Police are questioning several people but don't have a specific "person of interest" in custody as reported by other media, according to Officer Amina Greer.

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports police would only say that they have no suspect in the Mya Lyons murder and that their investigation is ongoing.

Friday night, in a now-familiar show of force, police Supt. Jody Weis was on hand for an outdoor roll call in the Morgan Park District. But police were tight-lipped about the Lyons investigation.

"Well there's really not much we can tell about the case because it's an ongoing investigation," said Deputy Supt, Steve Patterson. "Several leads are being followed-up, a lot of evidence is being worked up, many people are being interviewed at this point in time."

The alleged person of interest, a man in his 30s or 40s, was arrested sometime between 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday after possibly telling his friends he had been in the alley where Mya was found, according to sources.

He told investigators he is a "scrapper"-- someone who collects scrap metal to sell. He allegedly admitted to police he was in the alley and said that if had stayed longer, he could have saved her, according to the source, who said the person of interest may be mentally unstable.

The wounds on Mya's body were all on her right side torso area, leading investigators to believe the crime was committed by a left-handed person, and the person of interest is left-handed, according to the source, who said the man has a cut on his right hand that dental forensics investigators believe may have been caused when Mya bit him.

Investigators are in the process of obtaining a search warrant to look at items inside his home, according to the source.

Mya Lyons's father, Richard Lyons, got in his van to search for his daughter early Tuesday morning, after he did not find her in the house. He found her body in the alley behind his home in the 8400 block of South Gilbert Court. She had been stabbed multiple times, and was pronounced dead a short time later at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center.

Earlier, Mya's family said they had heard she had also been sexually assaulted, although an autopsy did not show evidence of such an attack.

Police say the killer had to be familiar with the neighborhood to know there was an alley at the end of the street.

Her loved ones gathered Friday at a visitation for the girl at Gattlings Chapel, 10133 S. Halsted. Beginning at about 4 p.m. friends and family arrived at the funeral home on the Far South Side to begin the process of saying goodbye to Mya.

"To have to say farewell, this is something no one should have to do to their child," Richard Lyons said.

Since the murder work crews from the city and Metra have cleaned up the dark, secluded, weed-filled alley, something Richard Lyons said he mentioned to his lifeless daughter.

"I just told Mya, I just talked to her and I told her that… that there was already changes made because of her, and that she didn't go in vain. They're making changes. And changes will continue to be made."

Richard Lyons said police have not told him anything about a break in the case. However, he said he is confident justice will be done. 

"I'm hoping this is a case that won't linger," he said. "I know there will be justice."

He also pled for others parents to appreciate the kind of treasure that was cruelly stolen from him.

"I want everyone to take a few minutes each night, call them Mya's minutes, and enjoy looking at your children," Richard Lyons said Friday night. "I used to enjoy that..."

Mya Lyons will be laid to rest tomorrow, following the funeral at Monument of Faith Church on the Southwest Side. 

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

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