Missing and Murdered Children

|May 28, 2010 | The California Highway Patrol has issued an AMBER Alert this evening for a four-year-old girl who was kidnapped by her non-custodial mother.

The non-custodial mother, Angela Marie Aiton, 35, allegedly abducted her daughter from a Newport Beach, California shopping mall. She was seen driving away in a black, 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with license plate number 4AXJ869.

Aiton lost custody of her daughter during a battle with mental health issues. Symphony was sent to foster care. The foster father brought Symphony to the mall for a supervised visit with her mother. At one point Aiton asked if she could take her daughter to the restroom, she never returned to the table. The foster father called police at about 6:30 p.m. Read the rest of this entry »

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: August 1, 2009Updated: 11 p.m.View Sources

A California AMBER Alert has been issued this evening for a 13-year-old girl from Whittier allegedly abducted by her paternal uncle.

According to Whittier Police, Cynthia Hernandez was taken by her uncle, Juan Hernandez, 45, last night after having an argument with Cynthia’s mother. Family members have told police that Juan Hernandez carries a handgun.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Whittier police at (562) 945-8249.

Victim: Cynthia Irene Hernandez

Cynthia is a 13-year-old Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5’11″ tall and weighs 240lbs. When last seen Cynthia was wearing a pink shirt, blue jean skirt, white tennis shoes, and brown prescription glasses.¹

Suspect: Juan Hernandez

Juan Hernandez is a 45-year-old Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. he is 5’8″ tall and weighs 245lbs. When last seen Juan was wearing gray slacks and a long-sleeve dress shirt. Considered armed and dangerous

Suspect Vehicle

1994 Black Chevrolet Silverado Pickup with CA License Text: 8N84118

Updates 

August 1, 2009: 11 p.m.

Cynthia was located at 9 p.m. this evening at a San Dimas Arco gas station. According to the Whittier Police, with the cooperation of the Department of Justice and “sophisticated surveillance equipment” they were able to locate the suspect’s truck. He was taken into custody without incident when he stopped at the gas station to refuel his truck. Cynthia has been returned to her family in Whittier.

The police would not elaborate on the “sophisticated surveillance equipment”.²

Sources 

1. AMBER Alert: Cynthia Hernandez, NCMEC, Last Accessed: August 1, 2009. [↩]
2. Kidnapped Whittier Girl Found Safe, CBS2.com, Last Accessed: August 1, 2009. [↩]