WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes rose in March to the highest level in three years.

The National Association of Realtors says that its seasonally adjusted index for pending home sales rose 1.5 percent to 105.7. That's the highest since April 2010, when a homebuyer's tax credit boosted sales. It's also above February's reading of 104.1.

Signed contracts are 7 percent higher than they were a year earlier. There is generally a one- to two-month lag between a signed contract and a completed sale. Still, sales are being held back by limited supply.

Sales of previously occupied homes dipped in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.92 million, down from 4.95 million in February.

VALLEY SPRINGS, CA - Authorities search for a man wanted in connection to the death of a 9-year-old girl.

A homicide investigation is underway by the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office and the District Attorney's Office after a young girl was killed at a home on Rippon Road, the sheriff's office said.

Sheriff deputies responded to the home after a 12-year-old boy called his parents saying there was an intruder in the home. The parents called 911 and deputies responded to the call.

The boy, who was home alone with his 9-year-old sister, tells investigators that he then went into another room in the home where he discovered his sister with severe injuries.

The girl was transported to a hospital where she later died.  The boy was not injured.

Investigators have not released the type of injuries the girl sustained, but do say that it does not appear that she was shot.

STOCKTON - Police say a missing man from Stockton was safely located in Southern California.

Paul LaForest left his Stockton home on Saturday morning after talking about going to San Diego. Police have since discovered that his credit card has been used in Los Banos, California.

LaForest was later located in Ventura and said to be safe.