A 5-year-old girl, reported missing after her father allegedly kidnapped her following the murder of her mother, has been located safely.
Ruben Fregoso, aged 40, was apprehended in Mexico, and his daughter, Daleisa Fregoso, has been recovered after a search lasting two weeks.
Fregoso stands accused of killing the girl’s mother, Marisol Garcia, aged 34, though few details have been released regarding the incident.
Footage showed Fregoso and his daughter crossing into Mexico from San Diego. Investigators indicated that he made comments that hinted at his intention to flee the country.
The vehicle they were using was discovered in San Ysidro, California, on the border with San Diego. The last sighting of the pair occurred on the morning of May 24 near Alsace Avenue and Ferndale Avenue.
Dariza, a U.S. citizen, is currently in the custody of Mexican authorities and is in the process of returning to the U.S. with help from the embassy.
Fregoso faces extradition to the United States on misdemeanor charges, including one count of murder and one count of child abuse under circumstances that do not involve serious bodily injury or death. If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence ranging from 25 years to life.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman remarked, “The murder of a mother and the kidnapping of a young child is the type of violence that shocks an entire community.” He expressed concern for the child’s trauma and pledged that the Family Violence Unit would actively pursue justice for both the deceased mother and the child caught in this tragic situation.
