Marine Detained After Missing Teen Found At Camp Pendleton
A U.S. Marine is now in custody following the discovery of a missing 14-year-old girl at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County, California. The girl, whose identity has been withheld due to her age, was reported missing by her grandmother on June 13 after she had run away from home several days earlier.
The search concluded on June 28 when the teenager was located in the barracks of the base. The circumstances that led her to the base and her connection to the Marine are unclear, with authorities withholding their identities. Capt. Charles Palmer, the spokesperson for the 1st Marine Logistics Group, confirmed that an unnamed Marine from Combat Logistics Battalion 5 is under investigation.
Upon the discovery of the child, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department was notified by military police. They interviewed the teen, and she was subsequently returned to her family. It’s unknown what assistance was provided to the family, and representatives from the sheriff’s office haven’t provided further information.
The teenager’s family has made some serious allegations. According to the girl’s aunt, Casaundra Perez, the girl was sold for human trafficking and was physically assaulted by the man. She also noted that the child could not consent to any of the illegal contacts she was subjected to because of her age.
In her accusations, Perez also implicated the base camp, stating, “The reality is the whole facility allowed this to happen.”
Despite these allegations, the Marine under investigation has reportedly not been charged. A photo of him being taken away in handcuffs by Marine Corps Police was shared on social media.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) has taken over the investigation due to the incident occurring on federal property, with assistance from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force.
Officials from Camp Pendleton have expressed their commitment to cooperate with NCIS and other relevant authorities, stressing that they take the matter very seriously. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not released any further information regarding the allegations or the circumstances that led the girl to the Marine base.
