CALIFORNIA MOTHER FACES NEW CHARGES AFTER 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS FOUND IN MEXICO AND NEWBORN BABY DIES

A disturbing case in California has taken another turn after the mother of a 14-year-old girl was arrested following an investigation involving a newborn baby found dead beside a rural road.

Ofelia Garcia Ortega, 36, is facing additional charges after investigators located her missing daughter in Mexico. The teenager’s father, Sergio Galvez Perez, 38, was also found and arrested in Mexico as authorities investigated allegations of sexual abuse within the family.

A NEWBORN FOUND BESIDE A ROAD

The investigation began on August 1, 2026, when authorities discovered a newborn girl, later referred to as “Baby Angelita,” along Struve Road in Monterey County, California.

Investigators determined that the 14-year-old had given birth near an agricultural field. According to officials, evidence at the scene indicated that the newborn suffered severe traumatic injuries.

During a news conference on October 8, investigators shared additional findings suggesting that the baby may have been run over by a vehicle after being placed on the ground. Authorities said evidence included tire impressions, blood at the scene and information gathered during the investigation.

The circumstances surrounding the infant’s death remain under investigation. Officials have not filed murder charges against the teenager in connection with the baby’s death as of the latest reports.

THE TEENAGER’S DISAPPEARANCE

In the days following the newborn’s death, investigators began searching for the teenager and her father.

Authorities later alleged that Perez had sexually abused his daughter and was preventing investigators from locating her. The teenager eventually went missing for weeks, prompting authorities to issue an Amber Alert.

Investigators ultimately located the girl in Mexico, where local authorities also arrested her father. Officials described the teenager as a victim of alleged abuse and said the investigation had uncovered deeply troubling circumstances surrounding her home life.

Perez faces charges related to alleged incest and sexual offenses involving a minor. The allegations have not been proven in court.

MOTHER FACES ADDITIONAL CHARGES

Ortega was arrested in California on October 6. Prosecutors allege that she allowed her daughter to work in agricultural fields using falsified identification documents, drive without a license and remain out of school for extended periods.

She faces charges including possession of forged identification documents, child endangerment and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her bail was set at $150,000, according to reports.

Investigators have emphasized that the charges against the mother concern the alleged treatment and circumstances of her daughter’s upbringing. Authorities have also said that the investigation into the newborn’s death is separate from those allegations.

A CASE THAT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP

The case has raised serious concerns about the teenager’s safety and the alleged abuse she experienced. Investigators are continuing to examine the evidence surrounding Baby Angelita’s death while authorities work through the legal process involving both parents.

Officials have not provided a final account of every circumstance leading to the newborn’s death, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Sources:

1. PEOPLE
2. San Francisco Chronicle