California Father Arrested in Mexico Two Months After Fleeing With 14-Year-Old Daughter in Baby Death Case
Sergio Galvez Perez, 38, was arrested in Mexico on Sunday after two months on the run, and his 14-year-old daughter was rescued safely. He faces charges including incest and child abuse in the death of a newborn found on a Monterey County roadside in August.
Two months after vanishing with his 14-year-old daughter, Sergio Galvez Perez is in custody.
Mexican law enforcement rescued Diana Galvez Ortega and arrested her 38-year-old father during the operation on Sunday, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office announced. Perez was found in possession of narcotics at the time of his arrest. The girl is safe and in the care of Mexican authorities.
Perez is wanted in Monterey County on suspicion of incest, lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, lewd acts with a minor, unlawful sexual intercourse, child concealment, and child endangerment. Authorities allege he sexually abused his daughter and impregnated her.
The case began on August 1, when the remains of a newborn were found on the side of a road in North Monterey County. The infant, whom authorities named "Baby Angelita," showed signs of traumatic injury. Investigators eventually identified the teen as the baby's mother — and her father as a suspect.
The Monterey County District Attorney's Office has been clear about where it stands on the girl. "We recognize that the 14-year-old is a victim of her father's abuse. No child should ever have to endure such horrific circumstances," the office said in a September 2 statement. No charging decision has been made against her, despite an arrest warrant obtained on August 31.
Her mother, 36-year-old Ofelia Garcia Ortega, was arrested in August on suspicion of child endangerment and released after posting bail.
The search went international in September. The California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert on September 8 for the teen, last seen August 4 in Salinas, and the investigation grew to include the FBI and Mexican authorities. Sheriff Tina Nieto said Mexican authorities are aware of the pending charges against Perez in Monterey County and promised a press conference with more details at a later date.
The rescue closes the manhunt — but the investigation remains active, and the question of how a 14-year-old victim ended up a murder suspect in the first place is one the district attorney's office has yet to answer.