A Marine was apprehended last month and released after a 14-year-old girl, who had been reported missing by her grandmother, was discovered in his barracks at a California base, according to authorities.
The military police at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, located the teenager on June 28, a little over two weeks after her grandmother reported her disappearance to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. The information was provided by Melissa Aquino, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
Captain Charles Palmer, the Director of Communications Strategy and Operations for the 1st Marine Logistics Group, confirmed that the Marine was detained by the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) on the same day for questioning, but was later released back to his command.
The ongoing investigation is being supported by the sheriff’s department and the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force, in collaboration with NCIS, according to Aquino.
In an additional remark, Aquino mentioned that the girl’s grandmother had reported her disappearance on June 13, claiming the girl had run away from home four days earlier. Although the girl had run away in the past, she had always returned home promptly, Aquino explained.
Casaundra Perez, identifying as the girl’s aunt, posted TikTok videos claiming the Marine bought the girl and raped her. She claimed her niece has “learning disabilities.” She is accusing the military of sex trafficking and a cover-up.
No one has been arrested in the case and it is under investigation.