MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. — An urgent search is underway in California for a 14-year-old girl after authorities issued an Amber Alert more than a month after a newborn believed to be hers was discovered dead along a roadside.
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued the alert on Sunday, Sept. 6, for Diana Galvez Ortega, who authorities say needs to be located and brought to safety.
The case began on the morning of Aug. 1, when a newborn was found deceased along Struve Road in north Monterey County. Authorities later named the baby “Baby Angelita” and said the infant had signs of traumatic injuries.
Investigators determined that Diana had given birth to the baby on the roadside before allegedly leaving the child there. As the investigation developed, authorities turned their attention to Diana’s father, 38-year-old Sergio Galvez Perez.
Father Sought in Extremely Serious Allegations
Perez is now being sought by authorities on what the sheriff’s office and Monterey County District Attorney’s Office have described as extremely serious allegations involving sexual abuse of his daughter.
Authorities believe Perez is the suspected father of the newborn and may be concealing Diana and preventing investigators from locating her.
The sheriff’s office said surveillance footage obtained during the investigation showed Perez and Diana together in the Salinas area inside a white Nissan Altima. The vehicle had no license plates and was later located, according to an update from the sheriff’s office on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
However, authorities have continued searching for Diana and Perez as they work to determine where the teen may be and ensure her safety.
Murder Warrant Became Point of Dispute
The case also involved a dispute over an initial murder warrant connected to the newborn’s death.
The sheriff’s office initially obtained a warrant for Diana on suspicion of murder. However, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni later said her office did not approve the murder charge.
In a statement released Sept. 2, Pacioni said she believed the newborn was a victim of incest.
She also explained that the initial warrant was a Ramey warrant, which can be obtained through a court at the request of law enforcement without advance review or approval from the district attorney’s office.
The distinction has become an important part of the ongoing investigation as authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death and Diana’s disappearance.
Multiple Charges Listed Against Diana’s Father
The sheriff’s office previously said it obtained a warrant for Perez on several charges, including incest, lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, lewd acts with a minor, unlawful sexual intercourse, child concealment and child endangerment.
Another person, 36-year-old Ofelia Garcia Ortega, was previously arrested on child endangerment charges in connection with the investigation.
Authorities have not clearly explained Ortega’s relationship to the children or to Perez.
With Diana still missing, officials have emphasized that the teen should be treated as a child in need of protection rather than being responsible for ensuring her own safety.
Authorities Urge Public to Help Find Diana
Pacioni stressed that law enforcement’s priority is finding Diana safely.
“The responsibility for getting a child to safety does not rest on the child,” Pacioni said. “Our priority is to ensure that this young girl is safe and has access to the support and services she needs.”
Anyone who sees Diana Galvez Ortega or Sergio Galvez Perez is urged to call 911 immediately rather than approaching them.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to locate the missing teenager and establish the full circumstances surrounding the death of Baby Angelita.
The case has raised urgent concerns about the safety of a child who authorities believe may be under the control of an adult facing serious criminal allegations.
What do you think about this developing California case? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for updates as authorities continue searching for Diana.
