In a notable turn of events, a 14-year-old girl who was reported missing in San Diego County last month has been safely reunited with her family after being found at Camp Pendleton. However, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance have raised concerns, as a Marine has reportedly been taken into custody. The case is currently being investigated by human trafficking authorities.
The girl, who remains anonymous due to her age, was initially reported missing by her grandmother on June 13, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. The grandmother mentioned that the girl had run away before but always returned home promptly. This time, she went missing on June 9.
Efforts were immediately made to find the missing teen by entering her information into multiple missing person databases, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Fortunately, military police at Camp Pendleton located the girl on June 28 and promptly notified the sheriff’s department. The girl was interviewed by detectives and her family was provided with necessary support services.
Lieutenant Carpenter, a watch commander for the SCSD, highlighted the underlying trauma associated with minors running away. In light of this, free counseling and social service programs have been offered to help the girl and her family cope with their personal issues and trauma.
While the girl did not require hospitalization, it has not been determined if she sustained any physical injuries during her time away.
As Camp Pendleton is federal property, the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) has taken charge of the investigation. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force are providing their full support to NCIS in the inquiry.
On June 28, a Marine from Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group was apprehended by military police for questioning by NCIS regarding his involvement with the missing girl, as reported by NBC7.
Captain Chuck Palmer, representing 1st Marine Logistics Group based at Camp Pendleton, confirmed the Marine’s arrest and stated that as of Thursday, he has not been charged and remains in custody under his command.
Meanwhile, the girl’s aunt, Casaundra Perez, disclosed some disturbing details in a TikTok video. Perez claimed that her niece has learning disabilities and had been sold for sex to the Marine. She expressed concern about potential retaliation from the military and the person she believes trafficked her niece.
The NCIS, however, refrained from commenting on ongoing investigations, citing respect for the investigative process.
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