A California woman says authorities in the South American nation of Ecuador are doing nothing to investigate the brutal death of her daughter.

Daniela Lopez was found murdered September 10 in the town of Ambato, just days before she was due to return home. Her throat had been slashed, and she had been stabbed multiple times.

Lopez, 26, was staying in Ambato with family members during her summer break from college.

Her mother, Gloria Lema, traveled to Ecuador to identify her daughter's body. She says local police told her there was no evidence in the case, and that they did not want to do any DNA tests.

U.S. officials say the U.S. Embassy in Quito is working with local authorities in the case. Lema says she has contacted the office of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, of California, for help.


Some information for this report was provided by AP.