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Deputies: Search continues for killer who dumped body of 8th-grader near OBT

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies continued the search for the person, or persons, who killed a Corner Lake Middle School student and dumped her body near Orange Blossom Trail.

The 15-year-old's body was found Tuesday morning along a street near Orange County's Sky Lake neighborhood, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Orange County deputies on Wednesday identified the victim as Melanie Mesen Medina, 15.

A passerby called 911 at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to report that a body was lying along Ziegler Road near South Orange Blossom Trail, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jane Watrel said.

"She was basically dumped on the side of the road," Watrel said.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said his office was doing everything it could to find out who killed Medina and why.

"We want to focus on finding out who did this because this is basically a child, and we don't want a killer, or killers, on the streets," he said.

Medina had been an eighth grader at Corner Lake Middle School until April 6, when her parents withdrew her from the school, officials said.

No information was released on why the girl's parents removed her from the school.

Her body was found five days later and 25 miles from the school.

Investigators have asked the public to come forward if they know with whom Medina was hanging out before she was found dead.

The victim was fully clothed, and there was trauma to her body, but investigators wouldn't elaborate on the nature of her injuries.

Although deputies often patrol the area for drug use and prostitution, deputies aren't linking the girl's death to such activity.

Watrel said it's not uncommon for motorists to use Ziegler Road as a shortcut to West Sand Lake Road, but she said residents didn't report hearing or seeing anything unusual on Monday night.

The death remains under investigation.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call the Sheriff's Office or Crimeline at 800-423-8477.