http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20030314-0231-missinggirl.htmlAmber Alert issued for missing 12-year-old
SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES
2:31 a.m., March 14, 2003
SAN DIEGO – Authorities were on the lookout today for a 12-year-old Bay Area girl who could gave headed for Southern California with a 44-year-old man acquainted with her family, officials said.
Investigators believe Mariela Garcia was taken Tuesday morning from her Richmond, Calif., school by Marcelino Benitez and that the pair headed south – possibly to Mexico, said spokesman Jimmy Lee of the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department.
"It appears that (the girl) and Benitez had a relationship," Lee said. "He might have enticed her away," Lee said.
Mariela is Latina, 5 feet tall, 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, Lee said. She was last seen wearing a white top, blue jeans and possibly a blue jacket.
Benitez, who also goes by Marcelino Blanco, is Filipino, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 160 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and glasses, Lee said, adding that he may be driving a brown two-door 1980 Datsun 200 ZX bearing front right-side damage with the license plate number 4XQT184.
Mariela was last seen about 8 a.m. at Helms Middle School in Richmond, but she did not attend class, Lee said. Her foster family reported her missing about 5 p.m. Wednesday.
After talking with relatives, investigators believe that Mariela is with Benitez, a man who associates with the family, Lee said. It was unclear if the two had a romantic relationship.
The girl was reportedly seen in Daly City, Calif., about 20 miles south of Richmond, about 5 p.m. Wednesday, Lee said.
Just after 1 a.m. today officials issued a statewide Amber Alert, said California Highway Patrol Officer Alex Gonzalez.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mariela or Benitez was urged to call the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department at (925) 646-2441.