Found: Whittier Girl Who Fled With Man She Met Online Is Now In Protective Custody

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The 12-year-old Whittier girl who left a note and disappeared from her home on Friday, possibly to meet a man she met online, was found Saturday morning in Anza, a rural area of Riverside County, say authorities, reports ABC Local. She is currently in protective custody and officials have not released additional details about her recovery.

Police believe the girl went meet 20-year-old Ivan Felipe Cerda of Vista and that "the two drove down to North County, San Diego to Certa's mother's home, where they stopped briefly before taking off again." According to authorities, Cerda and the girl met online on a social networking site associated with PlayStation.

Cerda is described as Hispanic, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 289 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. [The girl] is described as Hispanic, approximately 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 98 pounds, with shoulder length hair, brown eyes and braces.

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By Lisa Brenner in News on June 4, 2011 11:45 AM

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khagler

When I read about someone who fled their home with the assistance of a friend, I'm not inclined to think in terms of "protective custody" after "recovery." Given the (rather thin) information available, this sounds more like a case of "runaway slave recaptured."