Missing and Murdered Children

Original Post: August 5, 2009Last Updated: August 6, 2009: 7:30 p.m.View Sources

I don’t understand why this case has not resulted in the activation of an AMBER Alert.

According to authorities, 14-year-old Elvia Morales was allegedly abducted from her Woodburn, Oregon home by thirty-six-year-old Juan Morales-Morales. Elvia’s 17-year-old cousin said she witnessed the abduction and Elvia was not happy about going with Morales. According to the witness, Morales arrived at the home and announced he was taking Elvia with him. The cousin and Elvia told the suspect he was not going to take Elvia with him; however, Morales forced Elvia to accompany him.

Elvia’s mother has made a plea through an interpreter for her daughter to come home. Maybe there is something being lost in the translation, but it sounds as if Elvia’s mother is confused and not sure whether her daughter went willingly with the man who used to work with her husband.

Elvia’s family simply hopes she returns home soon. “She says she wants her to come home because she’s really worried about her cause this has never happened to her and she’s really upset and wondering why she’s all of a sudden gone,” said Morales, speaking on behalf of Elvia’s mom.¹

The suspect may be headed to California. The FBI is already involved in this case and have issued a Felony warrant for Kidnapping. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Woodburn, Oregon Police Department at 1-503-982-2345.

Victim: Elvia Morales

Elvia is a 14-year-old Hispanic female with long black hair and brown eyes. She is 4’5″ tall and weighs 110lbs. Elvia has a birthmark on her left arm. When last seen Elvia was wearing an aqua shirt, blue jeans, and white shoes²

Suspect: Juan Martinez-Martinez

Juan Martinez-Martinez is a thirty-six-year-old Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. His is 5’6″ tall and weighs 145lbs. Morales-Morales has a scar on the top of his head.³

Suspect Vehicle

A black or dark blue sedan, possibly an older-model Saturn. No license information available.⁴

Updates 

August 6, 2009: 3 p.m. PST

As of today authorities say there will be no AMBER Alert issued for this non-family abduction because there is not enough information about the suspect vehicle and it does not appear that Elvia is imminent danger of injury or death.

Also, Elvia’s father, Sebastian Morales, told reporters he received a phone call from his daughter after she was abducted:

The girl’s father, Sebastian Morales, said he received a call from his daughter asking to be left alone, to not search for her and that everything was okay. But Morales wonders whether the girl was coerced into making the call.⁵

It’s hard to tell anymore what is in peoples’ minds and what they will or will not do. It is said the suspect has a wife and children in Mexico. It does not make sense that he would take Elvia to Mexico as authorities believe he may do. Maybe Martinez believes Elvia is his daughter. Who knows?

August 6, 2009: 7:30 p.m. PST

According to KGW.com, police revealed this afternoon that Juan Martinez and Elvia Morales have had an ongoing, inappropriate relationship.⁶

No matter what people may think about this situation, Elvia needs to be found and brought back home to her parents. She most likely will need therapy. If the allegations are true, Morales needs to be tried for sexual assault of a child.

Age of consent in Oregon:

…If you are under the age of 18, you are considered unable to consent to a sexual act. Any person under the age of 18 that engages in a sexual act with another person under the age of 18 subjects themselves and the other person to prosecution. Any person over the age of 18 that engages in a sexual act with another person under the age of 18 subjects themselves to prosecution. In order lawfully consent to sex, a person must be at least 18 years old…⁷

I don’t know what this grown man was thinking. This girl still goes to middle school for cripes sake. The article says he has a wife and kids. I wonder how old his children are and I wonder if those children are girls. I wonder how he would feel if a grown man came after his daughter.

Sources 

1. KGW.com Staff, Missing Woodburn Girl May Have Been Kidnapped, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
2. Missing Poster: Elvia Morales, NCMEC, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
3. Ibid. [↩]
4. Jeff Jaeger KATU News and KATU.com Staff, Police on the Hunt for Kidnapping Suspect, KATU.com, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
5. Erica Heartquist and KGW.com Staff, Woodburn Girl Kidnapped by Family Acquaintance, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]
6. KGW.com Staff, Missing Woodburn Girl had ‘Ongoing Relationship’ with Abductor, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]
7. Laborlawtalk.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]

Original Post: Tuesday July 21, 2009Last Updated: July 24, 2009View Sources

This AMBER Alert sounds very serious. Diana, 14, was outside in her front yard Monday evening when two masked men came out from behind some trees, grabbed her and dragged her into a black car. Officers came quickly to the home off Carver in the town of Primera, Texas. It has been determined that one of the suspects is Victor Garcia, an old boyfriend of Diana’s sister. When she broke up with him he began making threats that he would ‘do something bad’ to the family. It appears he is making good on his threat.¹

Victim: Diana Izaguirre

Diana is a 14-year-old Hispanic female with black hair and brown eyes. She is 5FT tall and weighs 120LBS. When last seen Diana was wearing a white sleeveless shirt and gray shorts. She has a tattoo on her right ankle.²

Suspect 1: Victor Garcia

Victor Garcia is a 27-year-old Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5’5″ tall and weighs 170LBS. At the time of the abduction Garcia was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants. He has a tattoo on his neck. Garcia is considered armed and dangerous.³

Suspect Vehicle

Black Mercury Grand Marquis. There is no information about year or license number at this time.⁴

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Primera Police Department at 1-956-544-0860. If you see Diana or the suspect do not approach. Call 9-1-1.

Updates

July 24, 2009: 10 p.m. PST

Now I am confused about what really happened with this case. What is confusing me is the following quote from Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique of Brownsville Police:

“It’ll be a very difficult case to defend against when you’re 27 years old and you’re having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old.”⁵

Garcia has not only been charged with kidnapping, he is now charged with sexual assault of a child. From the comment above it sounds as if there was an ongoing relationship between the victim and the suspect. Of course that does not excuse the behavior on Garcia’s part. Diana is still under the age of consent.

Maybe that is why he was denying the kidnapping allegations when he appeared in court. Although authorities have evidence in the form of text messages allegedly sent by Garcia stating he was going to kidnap Diana. There is also evidence indicating Garcia planned to go to Mexico after the kidnapping. The article does not mention whether he planned to flee with Diana.

July 21, 2009: 4:40 p.m. PST

Diana was located safe earlier today after someone phoned in a tip to CrimeStoppers. Diana was located in a motel room at the Plaza Square Motel off Central Boulevard and Price Road in the city of Brownsville. Police say Diana appeared to be unharmed. Initially the abductor, Victor Garcia, was taken into custody by the FBI. However, later custody was transferred to Primera and Brownsville Police so Garcia can faces state kidnapping charges.⁶

Sources

1. Search Under Way for Girl, CBS11TV.com, Last Accessed: July 21, 2009. [↩]
2. AMBER Alert: Diana Izaguirre, NCMEC, Last Accessed: July 21, 2009. [↩]
3. Ibid. [↩]
4. Ibid. [↩]
5. Katie Lopez, Kidnapper Faces Another Charge, Valley Central.com, Last Accessed: July 24, 2009. [↩]
6. Kidnapped Primera Girl Found in Brownsville, ValleyCentral.com, Last Accessed: July 21, 2009. [↩]

Original Post: Monday July 20, 2009Click for UpdatesView Sources

Yes, you read it right, a Virgin Island AMBER Alert. When I first saw the missing poster for this child with the letters “VI” for what I thought was the initials of the state of residence I thought it was an error. Certainly they must have meant “VA” for Virginia. Anyway, call me nationalistic in my thinking. But you can’t call me that either because much to my surprise the Virgin Islands are considered part of the United States. Of course that echoes in my brain somewhere – United States Virgin Islands. I guess I just think AMBER Alerts are for the fifty states that make up United States of America. Enough of my meandering.

According to a Virgin Islands news website called St. Croix Source, two-year-old Alayah Watley resides with her mother on the island. She was last seen on Saturday at the home of her father, Rolando Watley. According to the article, Alayah was in her father’s temporary custody, however he is currently “off island”.

The AMBER Alert issued by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children states that Alayah is the victim of a non-family abduction and is believed to be traveling in a car owned by her father but driven by Candice Hazel. The AMBER Alert goes on to state that if contact is made with Alayah or either Candice Hazel, Delicia Hazel, Tiffany Hazel, Kyle Hazel or Rolando Watley police should be called. It sounds as if Alayah has more than one abductor, including her father.

I like the way the reporter for the St. Croix paper put it in no uncertain terms what will happen to anyone not contacting law enforcement if they know anything about this abduction:

If you are with Watley or may know her whereabouts please contact Detective M. Myers at 712-6046 immediately. Anyone withholding information on the whereabouts of this missing child and does not contact police immediately will face criminal charges.

It is refreshing to see someone not be so politically correct when asking for help to find a missing child.

Victim: Alayah Watley

Alayah is a 2-year-old Black female with black hair and brown eyes. She is 1’5″ tall and weighs 30lbs. When last seen Alayah was wearing black pants, a red shirt, gold earrings and no shoes. Her hair is worn in braids and her ears are pierced. Alayah is in need of medical attention.

Suspect: Candice Hazel

There is no information about Candice Hazel except that she is a female.

Suspect Vehicle

White Compass with License Number CDH-815

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective M. Myers at 712-6046 or the Virgin Islands Police Department at 340-772-9111.

Updates

July 20, 2009: 9:30 p.m. PST

The AMBER Alert activated this afternoon for Alayah has been canceled. A relative contacted police this evening and said Alayah was with her. Police interviewed the relative and then returned Alayah to her mother. Detectives will contact the Attorney General to see what charges, if any, will be filed.

Sources

Two-Year Old Alayah Watley Missing on St. Croix, St. Croix Source, Last Accessed: July 20, 2009.

AMBER Alert: Alayah Watley, NCMEC, Last Accessed: July 20, 2009.

Alayah Watley Missing Poster, NCMEC, Last Accessed: July 20, 2009.

Source Staff, VI Amber Alert Called Off: Missing 2-Year-Old Found on St. Croix, St. Croix Source, Last Accessed: July 20, 2009.