A 15-year-old girl was found safe late Sunday after she was reported missing hours earlier, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.Deputies are still searching for a teen suspect who they believe kidnapped her.The girl was placed into the temporary custody of Sacramento County Child Protective Services, deputies said.”This is not just a runaway girlfriend with her boyfriend trying to get away,” said Sergeant Amar Gandhi.Citali Itzpapalot Lerma was last seen getting into a dark-colored SUV against her will on Sunday morning in the Rio Linda area, according to a post on the office’s social media. Lerma has long brown hair, brown eyes and was wearing a dark gray hoodie, light blue ripped jeans and black New Balance shoes. “We don’t know if it was her current boyfriend or an ex-boyfriend or some sort of dating relationship,” Gandhi added. “The 17-year-old forced her into the car and drove away.”Deputies are also looking for 17-year-old Jesse Carranza in connection to the case. The sheriff’s office says he may have kidnapped Lerma. Carranza was last seen driving a dark SUV in the Rio Linda area and wearing a gray hoodie and blue jeans. “The 17-year-old has a bit of a criminal history already and has a felony warrant for an unrelated incident,” Gandhi said. “There is also some history with crimes, potentially some exploitation involving our victim.”It’s believed the victim might be used for sex trafficking. “A lot of these victims are manipulated and they are forced into doing things that they don’t necessarily want to do,” Gandhi added.Sunday afternoon, Lerma posted a message on social media saying she didn’t leave against her will. Deputies aren’t so sure.”We don’t know if that video was made under duress,” Gandhi said. “We don’t know the full circumstances. You can’t see her face.””This is something that happens every day across rural, urban, and suburban communities across the United States, and I think it is imperative to see this as a public health crisis,” said Ashlie Bryant.Bryant is CEO of 3 Stands Global, a local organization that helps victims of sex trafficking.”California has the highest rates of human trafficking as well as online exploitation in the country,” Bryant added. “I wish we didn’t have jobs to combat this. I wish it didn’t exist, but the reality is that it does, and our jobs are to prevent it.”The sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help in locating the suspect. Contact their office at (916) 874-5115 with any information. This story is developing. Stay with KCRA 3 for updates. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A 15-year-old girl was found safe late Sunday after she was reported missing hours earlier, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Deputies are still searching for a teen suspect who they believe kidnapped her.
The girl was placed into the temporary custody of Sacramento County Child Protective Services, deputies said.
“This is not just a runaway girlfriend with her boyfriend trying to get away,” said Sergeant Amar Gandhi.
Citali Itzpapalot Lerma was last seen getting into a dark-colored SUV against her will on Sunday morning in the Rio Linda area, according to a post on the office’s social media. Lerma has long brown hair, brown eyes and was wearing a dark gray hoodie, light blue ripped jeans and black New Balance shoes.
“We don’t know if it was her current boyfriend or an ex-boyfriend or some sort of dating relationship,” Gandhi added. “The 17-year-old forced her into the car and drove away.”
Deputies are also looking for 17-year-old Jesse Carranza in connection to the case. The sheriff’s office says he may have kidnapped Lerma. Carranza was last seen driving a dark SUV in the Rio Linda area and wearing a gray hoodie and blue jeans.
“The 17-year-old has a bit of a criminal history already and has a felony warrant for an unrelated incident,” Gandhi said. “There is also some history with crimes, potentially some exploitation involving our victim.”
It’s believed the victim might be used for sex trafficking.
“A lot of these victims are manipulated and they are forced into doing things that they don’t necessarily want to do,” Gandhi added.
Sunday afternoon, Lerma posted a message on social media saying she didn’t leave against her will. Deputies aren’t so sure.
“We don’t know if that video was made under duress,” Gandhi said. “We don’t know the full circumstances. You can’t see her face.”
“This is something that happens every day across rural, urban, and suburban communities across the United States, and I think it is imperative to see this as a public health crisis,” said Ashlie Bryant.
Bryant is CEO of 3 Stands Global, a local organization that helps victims of sex trafficking.
“California has the highest rates of human trafficking as well as online exploitation in the country,” Bryant added. “I wish we didn’t have jobs to combat this. I wish it didn’t exist, but the reality is that it does, and our jobs are to prevent it.”
The sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help in locating the suspect. Contact their office at (916) 874-5115 with any information.
This story is developing. Stay with KCRA 3 for updates.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel