Crime
Shock: Missing teenage girl found in barracks of San Diego Marine Corps base
It remains unclear how the girl came into contact with the Marine or if they knew each other before she was found in the barracks by the military police
July 11, 2023 8:57am
Updated: July 11, 2023 8:57am
A 14-year-old missing girl was found inside the barracks of a California Marine Corps base near San Diego, federal law enforcement officials said on Monday.
The missing teenager was found at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, San Diego County on June 28, almost two weeks after she was reported missing by her grandmother, according to a spokeswoman for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Melissa Aquino.
A marine with the Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group was taken into custody for questioning regarding the incident, confirmed Capt. Charles Palmer, director of communications strategy and operations for the 1st Marine Logistics Group.
“This command takes this matter and all allegations very seriously,” he added.
The Marine has since been released to his command while the investigation continues. The incident is being investigated by the Navy Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), with help from the sheriff’s department and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, Aquino added.
The girl was reported missing by her grandmother on June 13, about four days after the teenager ran away from home. The girl had run away from home several times before but always came back a few days after.
This time, the girl’s information was entered into several missing person databases, the sheriff’s department said.
It remains unclear how the girl came into contact with the Marine or if they knew each other before she was found in the barracks by the military police. Police have not released further details regarding the case, including the name of the Marine and how the girl got into the base.
"Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS does not comment on, confirm details relating to, or confirm the existence of ongoing investigations," said Jeff Houston, a spokesperson for NCIS.
In a TikTok, the girl’s aunt Casaundra Perez, claims that her niece was sold to a Marine for sex and was raped at the military barracks.
"They're trying to cover it up and place the majority of the blame on her. However, the reality is the whole facility allowed this to happen," Perez said in the video. "The security looked her in the face and allowed this man to bring a minor onto the base, where he proceeded to have sex with her. Due to her age, she could not have given this consent."
