Rebecca Maria Herrera, Missing Texas Cop's Daughter, Found Dead In Microwave Oven

A Texas police officer's young daughter was found dead inside a large old-fashioned microwave over the weekend. A family member made the discovery after the child was reported missing, according to The Houston Chronicle.

Rebecca Maria Herrera, 6, was reported missing at about 7 p.m. Saturday. Local law enforcement, neighbors and community volunteers spent about three hours searching for the child -- the daughter of a San Antonio police officer, KSEE 24 News in Fresno, Calif., reported.

At about 10 p.m., Maria's 10-year-old brother opened the door of an old-fashioned microwave in the backyard of a home and discovered his sister's body inside.

"All of a sudden, we heard people screaming that the baby was in the microwave," an unidentified next-door neighbor told The Beaumont Enterprise. "We just couldn't imagine -- how does the baby get into a microwave?"

The child, whom authorities have described as very small for her age, would often play hide-and-seek games. It is believed she crawled inside the microwave and became trapped. Her death is being investigated as an accidental sudden death, police said. An autopsy report is pending.