The 14-year-old was found after a weeks-long search tied to an infant’s death and sexual abuse allegations against her father.
SALINAS, Calif. — A missing 14-year-old Monterey County girl has been rescued in Mexico, and her father was arrested during the operation after authorities spent weeks searching for the pair in a case involving allegations of sexual abuse and the death of the teenager’s newborn, officials said.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said Mexican authorities located the teenager and arrested her father, 38-year-old Sergio Galvez Perez. The operation followed work involving sheriff’s detectives, the FBI and Mexican authorities. Officials said the girl is safe and remains in the care of local authorities in Mexico. Authorities have not publicly detailed exactly where in Mexico she was found.
Galvez Perez faces criminal charges in Monterey County stemming from allegations that he sexually abused his daughter. Prosecutors previously filed a child molestation charge against him, while sheriff’s officials have said he was wanted for suspected offenses including incest, lewd acts involving a child, unlawful sexual intercourse, child concealment and child endangerment. The allegations have not been adjudicated in court.
The sheriff’s office said Galvez Perez was found in possession of narcotics during the rescue operation. Authorities have not released additional information about the narcotics or announced how that discovery could affect proceedings against him. Mexican authorities were informed of the pending California charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
The search grew out of an investigation that began after a newborn was found dead along Struve Road in northern Monterey County on Aug. 1. Investigators referred to the infant as “Baby Angelita.” Authorities later said the 14-year-old was the infant’s mother and alleged that Galvez Perez, the girl’s biological father, was also the baby’s father.
The teenager and Galvez Perez were last known to have been in the Salinas area on Aug. 4. Investigators later obtained surveillance video showing them with a white Nissan Altima without license plates. An Amber Alert was issued in September as authorities said their priority was locating the teenager and ensuring her safety. The vehicle was later found in Monterey County, but the search for the two continued.
The case also drew scrutiny after investigators initially sought the teenager through a judicial warrant in connection with the infant’s death. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office later emphasized that no criminal charges had been filed against the girl and that prosecutors had not made a charging decision involving her. The office described her as a victim of her father’s alleged abuse and said her safety and access to support services were priorities.
The district attorney said the warrant involving the teenager was a Ramey warrant, which can be obtained by law enforcement from a judge based on probable cause without prior approval from prosecutors. The office said in September that it had not received a filing request or investigative reports seeking charges against the girl at that time. Prosecutors said any future charging decisions would depend on the evidence and the law.
The rescue marks a major development in a case that had prompted an Amber Alert and an interstate and international search effort. It does not resolve the separate investigation into the newborn’s death or the allegations against Galvez Perez. Authorities have said some evidence remains undisclosed because the investigation is active.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said a news conference would be scheduled to provide additional information. Officials had not announced further details about Galvez Perez’s return to California or the teenager’s next steps as of Monday.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 5, 2026.