Archive for the ‘Arizona’ Category
AZ Endangered Missing Toddler: Jennifer Murillo Perez
07.18.09: Jennifer has been located safe. Suspect charged with kidnapping, molestation, child endangerment.
Original Post: July 18, 2009Last Updated: July 19, 2009View Sources
According to Jennifer’s mother, Minorva Murillo, she was doing laundry in the laundry room of a mobile home park near Ironwood Drive and Apache Trail while her children played outside nearby. It was approximately 11:30 p.m. Friday night. She heard Jennifer cry out and she ran outside to check on her. Jennifer was not with the other children, when asked where she was, the children said they did not know. Police were called and they searched door-to-door within the confines of the mobile home park. Pinal County Sheriff’s came to aide in the search. Bloodhounds have been used to search the area for Jennifer without results.
According to Police Chief Jerald Monahan:
“This young person has been missing for a long time now.”…”She was in an open area. Foul play hasn’t been ruled out.”1
Pictured to the left is the area where the children were playing at the time of Jennifer’s disappearance. Although, admittedly, not a very great place for children to be playing at 11:30 p.m. there are not too many places she could be hiding. I can’t imagine someone coming along and snatching her without at least one of the other children seeing it happen. I keep looking at that picture and I wonder if she is trapped behind or underneath that dumpster on the left. Surely searchers must have looked there. I suppose someone could have snatched Jennifer and took her somewhere without the kids seeing the abduction. The other alternative is the mother is lying about what happened to her daughter. However, I am sure police have verified that Jennifer was in fact outside playing with them at some point last night.
Victim: Jennifer Murillo Perez
Jennifer is a 2 1/2-year-old Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is 2’5″ tall and weighs approximately 30lbs. Jennifer was last seen on Friday July 17, 2009 at 11:30 p.m. in the vicinity of the laundry room of a mobile home park near Ironwood Drive and Apache Trail. When last seen Jennifer was wearing a blue dress and pink sandals.2
Anyone with information about Jennifer’s disappearance is asked to call the Apache Junction Criminal Investigation Department at 480-982-8260.
July 19, 2009: 10:30 p.m. PST
There is more information regarding the alleged kidnapping and molestation suspect and how he was located. Jennifer’s mother went to the laundry room at about 10:30 p.m. Friday to put clothes in the washer and dryer. At that time she noticed a man hanging around the laundry room area talking on a cell phone. When Jennifer’s mother returned to the laundry room at 11:30 p.m. she no longer saw the man in the area. Holtz was at the mobile home park attending a party that night. He was asked to leave and that is when Jennifer’s mother saw him hanging around the laundry room. During the course of the investigation police suspected Holtz was the male spotted in the area. When shown a photograph of Holtz, Jennifer’s mother identified him as the male hanging around the laundry room. Police went to Holtz’ home located a mile away from the mobile home park and they located Jennifer in a back bedroom. Police say Holtz has given them no good or plausible reason for his actions. They have had contact with him in the past but not for such a serious offense. Holtz has been charged with kidnapping, molestation and child endangerment. There is no information about his arraignment. He is being held without bond in Pinal County Jail.3
July 19, 2009: 4:30 p.m. PST
Police announced today that the suspect, Alec Holtz, molested Jennifer while she was missing. She was taken to the hospital to be examined after she was located. I am guessing the examination revealed evidence of molestation. I doubt the suspect confessed to the molestation. I wonder if he drugged her. I am only saying that because when Jennifer was found police said she was in good spirits when they located her on Saturday. The news sources keep stating that Holtz is known to the family but not a relative. You just can’t trust anyone to be around your children nowadays.4
July 18, 2009: 10:30 p.m. PST
The identity of Jennifer’s alleged kidnapper has been released to the press. He is twenty-one-year-old Alec Holtz. There is no further information about this individual.
I checked the sex offender registry and he does not appear on it. I checked on MySpace and there is one Alec Holtz, age 21, who says he lives in Apache Junction, Arizona. There is no photograph. He says he is in a relationship but leaves his text number if you want to get to know him. The most disturbing part is he states he is a firefighter. It is disturbing to think that a firefighter would abduct a child. Of course, that is if the Alec Holtz on MySpace is the same Alec Holtz who is currently facing kidnapping charges.5
July 18, 2009: 6:30 p.m. PST
Jennifer was found late this afternoon unharmed in the home of a person known to the family but not a family member. The suspect was taken into custody. There is no further information at this time regarding the identify of the suspect.6 If there is further information I will be sure to post it here. Thank God, she was found safe.
- Deborah Stocks and Tim Vetscher, Apache Junction Toddler Goes Missing with Mother Nearby, ABC15.com, Last Accessed: July 18, 2009. [↩]
- Missing Poster: JENNIFER MURILLO PEREZ, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Last Accessed: July 18, 2009. [↩]
- Mike Sakal, A.J. Man Arrested in Kidnapping, East Valley Tribune, Last Accessed: July 19, 2009. [↩]
- Deborah Stocks, Tim Vetscher and Brent Roulier, PD: Kidnapped Apache Junction Child Molested by 21-Year-Old, ABC15.com, Last Accessed: July 19, 2009. [↩]
- Possible Alec Holtz MySpace Page, MySpace.com, Last Accessed: July 18, 2009. [↩]
- Deborah Stocks and Tim Vetscher, Missing Apache Junction Girl Found Safe, Suspect Arrested, ABC15.com, Last Accessed: July 18, 2009. [↩]
AZ Endangered Missing Child: Damaris Herrera
Damaris Herrera Lopez has been missing since Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at approximately 8p.m. She was with her parents in the parking lot of a McDonald’s restaurant in Yuma, Arizona. Media reports state that her parents have a long-standing custody dispute and this to be a transfer of custody between the two parents. During that meeting, Damaris became upset and ran off in the direction of an alley behind the YMCA near the McDonald’s restaurant.
It is unknown at this time whether Damaris continued down the alley or entered a vehicle. Police have questioned both parents and believe neither know the whereabouts of their missing daughter.
Damaris has in the past threatened to harm herself.
If you know the whereabouts of 10-year-old Damaris Herrera Lopez you are asked to call Detective Tejeda or Sgt. Rodriguez at 783-4421, or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.
Damaris is a 10-year-old Hispanic female with brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She is 4’8″ tall and weighs 78lbs. Damaris also has a highly visible red birthmark on her right forehand. When last seen Damaris was wearing a navy blue polo shirt with the words “Harvest Prep”, black pants, white socks, white shoes, and green earrings in both ears.
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December 19, 2008
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Damaris has been missing now for one week and two days. There is no new information regarding her whereabouts. At first her mother, Chrystal Lopez, was reluctant to speak to the media; however, with her daughter still missing she has decided to break her silence. She spoke in generalities about the bitter custody dispute between herself and Damaris’ father. The night Damaris disappeared the meeting in the parking lot of the YMCA was to facilitate transfer of custody from Chrystal to Damaris’ father. Although Chrystal does not believe Damaris’ father is harming their daughter, she is not so sure about the new people her ex is exposing their daughter to:
From www.kswt.com:
Chrystal is raising concerns about her ex-husband’s lifestyle.
“I’m not accusing my husband. I don’t think he is trying to do anything to our daughter, but the people he is hanging around with, probably,” explains Lopez.
Ms. Lopez also went on to explain that Damaris has been greatly affected by the ‘changes’ going on in her life and has been hospitalized due to threats of harming herself.
I viewed an interview with Damaris’ father held earlier in the week. He stated he considers Damaris his ‘little princess’. I was a bit confused when he was explaining the situation and how it unfolded. He stated during the interview he was carrying Damaris in his arms and trying to comfort her as he walked away from her mother. I am wondering why he felt it was appropriate to physically carry an almost 80lb child. I am assuming it was at that point he struggled out of his arms and ran off. It is just my opinion but it sounds as if she does not want to live with her father. He stated he has permanent custody.
I feel bad for this little girl. I hope authorities can find her. It sounds like she needs to be put in a safe environment until her parents start acting in their daughter’s best interest.
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December 23, 2008
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The focus of the investigation into the disappearance of Damaris Herrera has changed to her parents. Although it is common practice to look at close family members when a child goes missing, investigators are said to be struggling to clear one parent; they are not naming the parent. Damaris’ father, Rey Herrera, says investigators are remaining tight-lipped with him regarding any leads and he is also having a hard time with area business owners. Some of the local business owners are unwilling to place a picture of Damaris in their shops citing company policy against the practice.While being interviewed by KSWT TV News, Rey Herrera did not want to address the accusations made by his ex-wife earlier in the week regarding his lifestyle and her concerns as it relates to the safety and well-being of their daughter. He preferred to focus on getting the message out that his daughter is missing and he wants her home. He is also upset with authorities because they never activated an AMBER Alert.
This is just my opinion, but I think a ten-year-old is not going to stay away from home this close to Christmas unless she is being prevented from coming home.
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December 24, 2008
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Police believe Damaris is in Mexico and has been there since the night of her reported disappearance. It is also believed that Damaris’ mother was involved in her daughter’s disappearance and has joined her in Mexico.
According to authorities, the eldest son of Chrystal Lopez, Richard Alvarez, was waitiing in the alley behind the YMCA the night of the disappearance. It was from that location he immediately drove Damaris to the home of a family member in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son. Mexico. Alvarez was taken into custody and booked on charges of fraudulent schemes, custodial interference, false information to law enforcement and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. His bail was set at $515,000.
Chrystal Lopez was given temporary custody of her daughter after she had filed a motion with the court and that temporary custody order expired the night Damaris was spirited away to Mexico. Lopez was supposed to appear in court today regarding a child custody hearing. She failed to appear so a warrant was issued for her arrest with bond set at $100,000. Lopez’s charges are similar to those of her son.
Authorities state the investigation is still ongoing to locate Damaris and Lopez; they are working with the FBI and Mexican authorities to bring this case to a conclusion. Chrystal Lopez is described as a 41-year-old female, 5 feet 6 inches, 200 pounds, with brown hair and eyes.Detectives are asking anyone who knows either one’s whereabouts or has any information about this case to call Detective Tejeda or Sgt. Rodriguez at 783-4421 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.
Carissa Planalp, Police “Struggling” to Clear Parent of Missing Girl, KSWT.com, December 23, 2008.
James Gilbert, Police Believe Mother Knew of Whereabouts of Missing 10-Year-Old, YumaSun.com, December 24, 2008.
AZ Abducted: Karen Cervantes & Liliana Iboa
- Abducted Person 1: Karen Cervantes
- Karen is a 3-year-old Hispanic female with black hair and brown eyes. She is 3’6″ tall and weighs 25lbs. Karen has a two-inch-long surgical scar below her navel.
- Abducted Person 2: Liliana Iboa
- Liliana is a twenty-year-old Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5’9″ tall and weighs 160lbs.
- Suspects: Unknown
- Circumstances
Liliana Iboa and her daughter, Karen Cervantes, were reported missing to Avondale, Arizona police on Friday by Liliana’s twenty-six-year-old boyfriend (some news stories refer to him as Iboa’s husband) Benito Cervantes Mena. According to Mena he received a phone call indicating the two had been kidnapped for ransom. Apparently he was out of town when he received the phone call and when he returned home the house showed signs of a robbery with pillow cushions from the couch thrown about and other things disturbed. Mena told police he did not report the alleged kidnapping earlier because he was afraid they would be harmed if he called police.
When I first read this story I got that familiar feeling in the pit of my stomach that makes me tend to not believe the story of how the person or persons went missing. However, police at this time do believe Mena’s account and do not consider him a suspect or person of interest.
The time line of events according to Liliana’s mother:
- August 30, 2003
- Then 15-year-old Liliana is reported missing by her parents from their Springfield, Oregon home. They believe Liliana is being held against her will by then twenty-one-year-old Benito Cervantes Mena
- Approximately one month later Liliana calls Springfield, Oregon Police
- During that phone call she tells police she is safe and had run away from home to be with Mena. Liliana later came back home and the family moved to New Mexico.
- March 22, 2005
- Liliana gives birth to Karen Cervantes. It is not clear if Liliana is living with her parents at this point or with Mena.
- 2007
- Liliana and Mena break up and she moves back in with her parents in New Mexico.
- November 2, 2008
- According to Liliana’s mother, Mena shows up at their home and Liliana leaves with him.
- November 6, 2008
- Liliana calls her mother but her mother did not tell reporters the content of that phone call
- November 7, 2008
- Mena calls police to report the kidnapping of his daughter and girlfriend/wife. Police have verified that even though Mena refers to Liliana as his wife, they have never been legally married.
The parents do not like Mena because they say he has a ‘bad reputation’. I hope this is just an instance of Liliana deciding she made a mistake going back with Mena and she is hiding out somewhere until she can get back to New Mexico.
- November 11, 2008
- Liliana and Karen were located unharmed a little before midnight Monday night. The captors released them in North Phoenix. A passerby helped Liliana contact police. No further information was released about where the two had been held captive for the past four days.
I am glad I was wrong about this story and all turned out well.
Beth Duckett, Police Fear Avondale Mom, Daughter Kidnapped, AZCentral.com, November 9, 2008.
Deborah Stocks, Search Continues for Missing Avondale Mom, 3-Year-Old, KNXV-TV-Phoenix, November 9, 2008.
Search Ends for Missing Avondale Mom, 3-Year-Old, KNXV-TV Phoenix, November 11, 2008.
