THE GROOMING AND KIDNAPPING OF A 14 YEAR OLD FEMALE

In the world of private investigations, every case brings its unique challenges and complexities. On August 7, 2023, a 14 year old female went missing from Long Beach, CA. SEARCH Investigations (Steve Fischer) was contacted by a California private investigator who asked me to meet with the family since his agency is located in Northern California.  In this blog post, we delve into the details of the investigation that led to the recovery of a missing minor, referred to as HMC to protect her identity.

The Disappearance:

On August 7th, 2023, HMC, a 14-year-old girl, went missing from Long Beach, CA. HMC had previously gone missing in May of 2023 and was located by law enforcement.  The circumstances surrounding the previous disappearance were deeply concerning, and we had every reason to believe this was a repeat occurrence. I (Steve Fischer) met with the 14 year old missing persons mother and aunt shortly after she went missing. At that meeting I committed to help find HMC. This ended up being the most complex case I have worked on. I became very attached to the case and to the family.

The Initial Steps:

The first critical step in any missing person's case is gathering information. I worked closely with HMC's family, including her mother, father, and aunt, to gather as much information as possible about her whereabouts, associates, and recent activities. And there was a lot to unpack. Like so many other cases an underlying factor was mental health issues.

Digital Trail:

A significant break in the case came through HMC's digital footprint. Her Instagram account provided valuable insights into her recent interactions and connections. 

Changing Identities:

One notable development was HMC's change in her online identity. She altered her Instagram name, possibly in an attempt to evade detection. Because she was a minor the parents had the legal authority to access her accounts if we could make entry. The family ended up giving me power of attorney (along with the parents) over the missing minor. This gave me the authority to access accounts. We were able to breach HMC’s instagram and other accounts and took them over, using them as leverage.

Key Players:

As the investigation progressed, several key players emerged. Burner calls trying to give us false information traced back to Maribel N. I found out Maribel recently had a restraining order filed against her. The restraining order alleged an affair between Maribel and Jesus M, who was linked to a significant address tied to HMC's case. Jesus had recently been released from doing nineteen years in prison for amongst other things aggravated kidnapping. 

Criminal Records:

Jesus M. had an extensive criminal record, including charges related to robbery and kidnapping for ransom. These criminal charges raised concerns about potential grooming or trafficking activities in connection with HMC's case.

An Anonymous Tip:

A significant breakthrough came when an anonymous tip was received, pinpointing an address where HMC might be located. Investigator Fischer wasted no time and initiated surveillance operations in the vicinity of the provided address.

The Recovery:

On August 28, 2023, after 20 days of searching and other aggressive tactics, including negotiations with third parties, we found the Maribel who was holding HMC. After confirming HMC was in Maribel’s custody, I requested the assistance of the Los Angeles Sheriff Department and we recovered HMC from Maribel and returned HMC to her family and immediately placed her in mental health care.

Conclusion:

There is much more to this case that I can’t disclose because of FBI involvement. It was the most intense case I have worked. I grew extremely close to the family. I wish I could tell more about the case but I can’t at this time. This case affected me greatly.

This is an email I received from the 14 year olds father a few days ago. Normally I would not share a personal email, but I am proud of the work me and my team did. We made a difference. And sometimes when there are people trying to take you down out of jealously, you need to pat yourself on the back and remember you did a good job and you made a difference in a families life.

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