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Burned Body Found in Gerritsen Beach Was 14-Year-Old Girl

By  Murray Weiss James Fanelli Julie  Shapiro and Aidan Gardiner | January 8, 2013 6:26pm | Updated on January 9, 2013 7:20am

BROOKLYN — The burned body that was discovered in Gerritsen Beach Sunday has been identified as a missing 14-year-old girl, sources said.

Shaniesha Forbes, a student at the Academy for Young Writers in East New York, was found dead with burns on her naked body near Gerritsen and Lois avenues early Sunday morning, sources said.

The burns on her hands, arms and legs were not serious enough to be life-threatening, and authorities were still working to determine the cause of death Tuesday, sources said.

Forbes' family reported her missing last week but told police the teen had disappeared from home numerous times, sources said.

Cops did not issue a public missing persons bulletin as a result.

She was last seen at 8:30 a.m. Friday before she left for school.

Detectives investigating the case went to the victim's school on Monday, sources said.

Police did not immediately have information about the incident.

Friends and well-wishers took to social media to mourn Forbes.

Ashley James, who identified herself as a longtime friend of Forbes', said the two remained close even through the arguments that friends can sometimes have.

"As I think back from all the old times they bring joy to my heart, but tears to my eyes," James wrote. "Shaniesha, I love you and I hope you rest in paradise."