Missing and Murdered Children

Original Post: September 24, 2009Updated: 10.06.09View Sources

Authorities in Laredo, Texas issued an AMBER Alert yesterday for 12-year-old Karla Victoria Yrigoyen-Rivas of Laredo. According to information I have read she was last seen on Tuesday, September 22 at around 8:30 a.m. It is believed she was abducted by 29-year-old Herman Hernandez Canales. The original AMBER Alert mentioned another individual; however, the NCMEC site has changed the suspect information to Herman Hernandez Canales.

Police believe Karla to be in grave and immediate danger. I have searched the Internet news sites for information about this case and I have only been able to find short blurbs regarding the AMBER Alert. There is no background, no interviews with family members or friends. At this point there is not even a photo of the suspect.

If you have information, please contact Laredo Police Department at 956-795-2800.

Victim: Karla Victoria Yrigoyen-Rivas

Karla is a 12-year-old Hispanic female with black hair and brown eyes. She is 5′ tall and weighs approximately 100lbs. When last seen Karla was wearing a white blouse, blue jeans and black sandals. ¹

Suspect: Israel Blanquel Sotelo; AKA: Jose Martinez Santillan; Giovanni

Israel Blanquel Sotelo is a Hispanic male. He is a Mexican National. There is no other information about this suspect.

Updates 

Latest Update

September 24, 2009: 4:45 p.m. PST

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children the AMBER Alert issued for Karla Victoria Yrigoyen-Rivas has been canceled. There is no further information at this time. I hope she was located safe.

September 24, 2009: 11:45 p.m. PST

I am at a loss regarding why the AMBER Alert was canceled for this girl after reading the story of who this suspect is and what the mother has said about him.

Everything I have been able to find on this story this evening indicates Karla is still missing. According to her mother, Karla refused to go to school the morning of her disappearance. Later in the morning, the youngest daughter came into the mother’s room to tell her Karla was going to the local convenience store and would be home soon. She never came back home.

This mother has two men in the home and they rent rooms from her. Here is what the mother told the media about the suspect, 29-year-old Herman Hernandez Canales:

Karla’s mother had been renting a room to canales about two months. Another man also rents a room in the house.
Karla’s mother says canales visited with them often.
According to the mom, canales had already told her he loved her daughter, but she says he is a drug addict, and according to police, is an undocumented immigrant. ²

I don’t know about anybody else, but if a 29-year-old man told me he was in love with my 12-year-old daughter that would be enough for me to show the guy the door. Forget the added info that he is a drug addict and was deported from California in 2004 because he is undocumented. What could this mother be thinking. I read that quote and the hairs on the back of my head stood straight up.

Police have video from the local convenience store that was taken the morning before Karla disappeared. They are hoping the video will aid in finding the suspect and Karla. Police have stated they don’t believe Canales has crossed the border with Karla and that he is still in Laredo. They are following all leads.

What could that mother be thinking?

September 25, 2009: 10 p.m. PST

I can’t say I’m not surprised but police now say they have video showing the suspect and Karla crossing over the border into Mexico at about 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The news report states the video captured the two crossing at Bridge One. I am guessing that the FBI learned Canales was no longer in this country by following his cell phone signal. I think it was probably at that point they told Laredo police their suspect and victim had fled the country and they had better figure out what border crossing they used. Police have now contacted Mexican authorities and family members to aid in the search.

Now that we know Canales is dumb enough to carry a cell phone that can be tracked, let’s hope he is dumb enough to go back to his family is Honduras so he is easy to find.

September 27, 2009

Karla is still missing and assumed to be in Mexico with Herman Hernandez Canales. What I don’t understand is this new discussion between reporters and police of whether or not Karla went with Canales ‘willingly’:

Now questions are being raised of whether or not the girl went willingly.

Off. Albert Escobedo, Laredo Police Department
“This new information will probably confirm this information we’re still dealing with this as a missing person report and will treat it as such.”
The girl’s mother told pro 8 news earlier this week that she didn’t believe karla would willingly leave with canales.³

I just don’t understand why the above discussion even took place. She is 12. She cannot legally consent to leave the country with this adult male. She cannot even legally leave the country without parental consent.

Over the past 48 hours there has been a very similar case in the news involving 13-year-old Haley Willitt from Owensboro, Kentucky. The man in question, 43-year-old Archie Whalen, had also professed his love for Haley to her mother. Unlike Karla’s mother, Haley’s mother got her daughter the hell away from this guy and made every effort to keep him from contacting her daughter. She even took the extra step of calling law enforcement in the town where Whalen lived to alert them to his attempts in contacting her daughter. Whalen did manage to get Haley to leave her home with him. However, police called it what it was, an abduction, and treated it as such. An AMBER Alert was issued and Haley was located this morning with the suspect in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Whalen is in custody. Whalen’s past criminal record includes rape, assault and sexual contact with a minor. With that new bit of information I am wondering why the authorities in Maine where Whalen lived did not do more to keep Whalen from contacting Haley.⁴

The circumstances of these two cases appear almost identical except for two things: Haley is white and Karla is Hispanic and the suspect in Karla’s case is undocumented. These cases were handled differently. Both suspects have criminal backgrounds. Haley’s AMBER Alert remained active until she was found, Karla’s AMBER Alert was canceled before police even announced she had been spotted on surveillance video crossing over the border into Mexico. I just don’t understand why two cases with so many similarities were handled so differently.

September 30, 2009

There has been a couple of updates in the search for Karla. The first significant update happened yesterday when police revealed Karla’s mother misidentified the person of interest. I have changed the information above to reflect that change. The man who authorities are now looking for is a Mexican National named Israel Blanquel Sotelo. Sotelo sometimes goes by the names Giovanni or Jose Martinez Santillan. I really don’t understand this mother one bit. Also, I am sure I read in initial stories about Karla’s disappearance that Karla’s sister told her mother in the morning that Karla was going to the nearby convenience store and would be back soon. However, Karla’s mother did not report her daughter’s disappearance until 4 p.m. that day. Karla is shown on surveillance video crossing the border into Mexico with the suspect at 12:50 p.m.

Karla phoned her mother on September 29. She said she was in Mexico City. They talked until they got disconnected. I hope they just got disconnected and the man she is with did not discover her calling her mother and hung up the phone. Karla’s mother contacted police and provided them with the number from the caller id. Police are now focusing on that number and what areas it may lead.

October 6, 2009

It’s crap like this that makes the police hesitant to issue AMBER Alerts for missing kids near teen-age years. Karla finally called her mother again on Monday and told her she was ready to come home. She said she had gone willingly to Mexico City to visit family there and the adult male roommate just went with her to make sure she was safe. So investigators met Karla at the same bridge she was seen crossing into Mexico several weeks ago. She was taken to a hospital and examined, she showed no signs of abuse. I guess she had a nice time visiting family in Mexico City.

Police say at this point they are not sure if charges will be brought against the companion. He has not been charged with any crime, although the case is still under investigation. Police say Karla’s mother led them on a wild goose chase. I am glad she is home. What a waste of resources.

Sources 

Police Identify ‘Person of Interest’ in Missing Girl Case, Pro 8 News.com, Last Accessed: September 24, 2009.

Missing Girl and ‘Person of Interest’ Crossed into Mexico Days Ago, Pro 8 News.com, Last Accessed: September 25, 2009.

Mother of Missing 12-Year-Old Girl Misidentified Suspect, Pro 8 News.com, Last Accessed: September 30, 2009.

Phone Home: Missing 12-Year-Old Calls Mother, Pro 8 News.com, Last Accessed: September 39, 2009.

Pro 8 Update: Missing 12-Year-Old Girl Home in Laredo, Pro 8 News.com, Last Accessed: October 6, 2009.

1. AMBER Alert Case: Karla Victoria Yrigoyen-Rivas, NCMEC, Last Accessed: September 24, 2009. [↩]
2. Mother of Missing Girl Speaks About Her Daughter and the ‘Person of Interest’, Pro 8 News.com, Last Accessed: September 24, 2009. [↩]
3. Police Review Video Showing Missing Girl in Mexico, Pro 8 News.com, Last Accessed: 09.27.09. [↩]
4. UPDATE: Teen Found Safe in Wisconsin, WKRC, Cincinnati, Last Accessed: 09.27.09. [↩]

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. [↩]