An 11-year-old Wynnewood area girl is back home after running away this past weekend in what authorities are instead considering a child abduction case.
Garvin County deputies believe the note from the girl explaining why she was leaving home Saturday came at the prompting of a 22-year-old Sulphur man, who ultimately drove the girl to Texas before both were soon tracked down.
Now in custody on a variety of criminal complaints is Elias Carbajal Cruz.
A friend of the girl’s family, Cruz is accused of enticing the pre-teen into running away from her rural Wynnewood home before he then took her south.
“We’re investigating his enticement of this girl,” said Sgt. Jim Mullett of the county sheriff’s office.
“Yes she wrote a note saying she was leaving, but we believe he enticed her to do that,” he said.
“This was an enticement, him telling her what to do and promising her a better life.”
The case got going quickly after the girl’s mother woke up Saturday morning and discovered her daughter was missing.
Also discovered was a note written by the girl, which reportedly described her intention to run away from home because of how unhappy she was there.
“According to the little girl’s letter she felt she was being mistreated at the household with things like chores,” Mullett said.
Reports show Cruz had often visited the girl and her parents at their home.
The girl’s mother told authorities she had destroyed the different notes the girl had written to Cruz.
With the case at that time considered a runaway, deputies soon learned an area resident had in the early morning hours Saturday given a ride to a girl matching the description of the one missing.
It turned out this was in fact the missing girl, who was walking southbound on U.S. 77 carrying three backpacks when the motorist gave the girl a ride to Sulphur.
Once in Sulphur a man, later identified as Cruz, was there.
“Right now we’re investigating if sexual assault occurred there,” Mullett said.
From there Cruz and the girl drove south and into Texas, which could potentially take the case federal with a kidnapping allegation.
That still couldn’t hide them away from authorities as deputies here learned the girl had used the motorist’s cell phone to call Cruz during the ride to meet him in Sulphur.
Federal officials using a satellite global positioning system in Cruz’ cell phone were quickly able to track his location to a Wal-Mart store in an undisclosed city in Texas.
Local police officers soon made contact with Cruz as both he and the girl were taken into custody.
“This is considered a kid stealing case in Garvin County,” Mullett said.
“They’re investigating child molestation in Murray County, and the FBI is looking at a kidnapping charge,” he said.
“She’s safe and back with her parents. Right now we’re in the process of having him extradited back to Garvin County.”
Local News
County girl safe at home
- Local News
-
-
Despite 75th milestone, GC livestock show maintains tradition
Part of what makes the Garvin County Livestock Show stand out for so many participants year after year is despite any changes, the traditions which began so many years ago can still be seen from those who are involved today.
-
Raffle run to help kids’ place in PV
A special football sporting the names of past Oklahoma gridiron greats is at the center of a campaign going on right now to help a Pauls Valley kids’ facility.
-
Cookie sales kick off
-
Breakfast tradition returning for crowds and fellowship
While many residents of Pauls Valley have no shortage of great causes to open up their pocket for in any given year, there are events where community bonds almost overshadow an annual need.
-
A real focus on illegal drugs
The new year has brought with it a very fast pace for one Garvin County law enforcement agency thanks to its extra attention on illegal drug activity.
-
Featured Pet Adopt: Blossom
-
Showing Support
-
Absentee date comes in a week
Voters in three Garvin County school districts have a few days left to request to have absentee ballots mailed to them for an upcoming election date.
-
Disaster mode to get some practice
Officials from all over Garvin County are expected to band together in a few weeks to be a part of a statewide exercise that serves as a kind of practice in what needs to be done after a natural disaster strikes.
-
College class to look at old hotel site
A group of visiting college students saw the potential right away on Friday for a project meant to create a buffet of ideas for the future use of the place where an old, long vacant downtown hotel once stood before scorched by fire years ago.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses
Gingrich Renews Vow to Campaign Until Convention
Romney Rolls to Easy Win in Nevada GOP Caucuses
Raw Video: Missing Family Found Alive in Ore.
Police Clear Tents From Occupy Site in DC
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
