Diana Galvez Ortega, a 14-year-old Monterey County girl missing for over a month, was safely rescued in Mexico on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, and her fugitive father was arrested during the operation. Authorities allege the father abused and impregnated her, with the case centering around an infant found dead near Moss Landing in August.
Federal and local law enforcement operations in Mexico secured the safe rescue of 14-year-old Diana Galvez Ortega on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office announced the development, ending a multi-agency search that began after an Amber Alert was issued on Sept. 6.
The teenager’s father, 38-year-old Sergio Galvez Perez, was taken into custody during the rescue. Investigators allege he abused and impregnated his daughter, and that the two had fled together in a car without license plates after vanishing from Salinas in early August. Based on his YouTube channel, El Aguila Real y su Ritmo Sabroso is the moniker used by the Mixtec musician Sergio Galvez Perez. Detectives suspect that Sergio Galvez Perez hid the girl to avoid being arrested for incest crimes.
Sergio Galvez Perez Faces Drug and Felony Charges
During the operation that located Diana, Sergio Galvez Perez was found in possession of narcotics, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto detailed the joint effort involving local detectives, the FBI, and Mexican law enforcement.
“Monterey County Sheriff’s Office detectives have worked closely with the FBI and Mexican authorities to secure Diana’s safe rescue. During the rescue operation, Sergio Galvez Perez was arrested after he was found in possession of narcotics. Mexican authorities are aware of the pending charges against him in Monterey County for crimes committed against Diana. Diana is safe and is currently in the care of local authorities in Mexico.”
Sheriff Tina Nieto, Monterey County Sheriff’s Office
Galvez Perez faces multiple felony counts in Monterey County Superior Court. The formal complaint filed by prosecutors includes charges of lewd acts upon a child under 14 with an enhancement for alleged great bodily injury, incest, and child abuse. Prosecutors allege the offenses occurred between Nov. 1, 2025, and April 21, 2026, while the child abuse charge extends through Aug. 5, 2026. The charges in the complaint specifically state that Galvez Perez unlawfully and intentionally caused, permitted, and subjected Jane Doe—a minor under his supervision and custody—to endure severe mental distress and unjustified bodily pain, alongside exposing her person and health to hazardous conditions.
Detectives Investigate Moss Landing Infant Death
The case first drew law enforcement attention on Aug. 1, 2026, when an agricultural worker discovered the body of a newborn baby on Struve Road near a strawberry field in Moss Landing. Authorities subsequently named the deceased infant “Baby Angelita.” Investigators reported that the baby showed signs of traumatic injury.
Detectives determined that the 14-year-old girl had given birth to the infant on the roadside and that Galvez Perez fathered the child. The teenager and her father disappeared three days after the infant’s body was recovered. In August, the sheriff’s office also arrested the teen’s mother, 36-year-old Ofelia Garcia Ortega, on suspicion of child endangerment; she was later released after posting bail.
Public Backlash Follows Initial Statements
The investigation sparked widespread public attention and local debate following initial statements from the sheriff’s office. Early in the inquiry, investigators announced probable cause to seek an arrest warrant for the teenager on suspicion of murder, while also noting the case initially did not meet criteria for an Amber Alert.
Following pushback from community members and local officials including Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office clarified that the 14-year-old had not been charged with a crime in connection with the infant’s death. Meanwhile, many online expressed anger at the initial statements and subsequent updates from authorities.
We recognize that the 14-year-old is a victim of her father’s abuse.
Monterey County District Attorney’s Office
“Our priority is to ensure that this young girl is safe and has access to the support and services she needs.”
Monterey County District Attorney’s Office
While Mexican authorities hold Diana in local care, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office indicated that an upcoming press conference will provide further details on the active investigation and the circumstances of the rescue.
