CAMP PENDLETON — A 14-year-old girl who was reported missing from her Spring Valley home last month is back home after she was found at Camp Pendleton, authorities said July 8, while a Marine has reportedly been taken into custody in the case, which is being investigated by human trafficking authorities.
The girl, who has not been identified because of her age, was reported missing by her grandmother on June 13, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s officials said the grandmother told them the girl, who had run away before but always returned home quickly, went missing on June 9.
The teen’s information was entered into multiple missing person databases, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Military police at Camp Pendleton located the girl on June 28 and informed the sheriff’s department. Detectives interviewed her and the family was offered services, authorities said.
“When a minor runs away, there is usually an underlining of trauma associated. Free counseling and social service programs to help the girl and her family to deal with trauma and personal issues are being offered,” Lt. Carpenter, a watch commander for the SCSD, told City News Service.
The girl was not hospitalized, but it was unclear if she sustained any injuries.
Since Camp Pendleton is federal property, Naval Criminal Investigative Services is handling the investigation. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force are supporting NCIS with the investigation, sheriff’s officials said.
On June 28, a Marine was taken into custody by military police on the base and questioned by NCIS personnel about his involvement with the girl, NBC7 reported.
“We can confirm that a Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group was taken into custody for questioning by Naval Criminal Investigative Services on June 28, 2023, as seen on social media July 2, 2023,” Captain Chuck Palmer of Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Logistics Group told the station.
He added that the Marine — who has not been identified — had not been charged as of Thursday and remains in the custody of his command.
Meanwhile, the girl’s aunt, Casaundra Perez, told the station that her niece has learning disabilities and was sold to a Marine for sex. Perez posted a video to TikTok where she said that her family was afraid of retaliation from the military and from the man she believes trafficked her niece.
@micronmaniac♬ original sound – Casaundra Perez
“The security looked her in the face and allowed this man to bring a minor on to base where he then proceeded to have sex with her,” Perez said in the video. “Due to her age, she could not have given this consent.”
Perez also said the military was trying to “cover up” the incident.
“Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS does not comment on, confirm details relating to, or confirm the existence of ongoing investigations,” the agency said in a statement.
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UPDATE: This article includes an additional statement from the girl’s mother, Casaundra Perez.
