The 14-year-old girl who officials say gave birth to her father’s child on a California roadside has been rescued following an Amber Alert issued last month, Monterey County officials confirmed Sunday evening.
The girl was found in Mexico along with her father, 38-year-old Sergio Galvez Perez, who authorities allege abused and impregnated her. The newborn, dubbed by law enforcement “Baby Angelita,” was found dead in the 100 block of Struve Road in north Monterey County on Aug. 1.
It was unclear where in Mexico the teen and her father were found.
During what was described as a rescue operation conducted by FBI and Mexican authorities, officials said Perez was found in possession of narcotics. It remains unclear how he obtained them.
A few days after the initial Amber Alert, Perez’s getaway vehicle was found in Monterey County, authorities said in a news release.
Authorities initially sought Perez and the 14-year-old in connection with the infant’s death.
The Monterey County district attorney’s office later issued a statement clarifying that the 14-year-old was the “victim of her father’s abuse.”
“No child should ever have to endure such horrific circumstances,” the D.A. said in the release in September. “Our priority is to ensure that this young girl is safe and has access to the support and services she needs.”
However, many online expressed anger at the initial statement and the update, which they said was too long in coming.
“It’s about time they start calling her a victim,” one Facebook user said in a post. “Police did a disgusting job of handling this case.”
Perez is a Mixtec musician who goes by the name of El Aguila Real y su Ritmo Sabroso, according to his YouTube channel.
Perez is suspected of multiple felony violations: incest, lewd or lascivious acts with a child younger than 14, lewd acts with a minor, unlawful sexual intercourse, child concealment and child endangerment.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said a news conference would be scheduled at a later date.
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