Family of underage girl found at Camp Pendleton Marine barracks says investigators trying to sweep incident under rug
The family of a 14-year-old girl found at a California naval base claim she was questioned without a guardian by military police after she was “raped” and that the military is trying to cover up the incident.
Casaundra Perez, the girl’s aunt, claimed her niece was raped by an unnamed Marine at Camp Pendleton barracks north of San Diego and claims investigators have tried to blame the minor and the incident “under get the carpet swept.
“(Detectives) accused (my niece) of communicating with the Marine and saying he was her boyfriend, but she doesn’t even know the Marine’s name,” Perez told police. Los Angeles Times.
Perez has posted updates from the investigation on TikTok and is working with CommunityX, which is organizing petitions, calls to action and fundraisers through “digital activism” to help raise awareness of the case.
The teenager was found in the barracks and officials are continuing the investigation. No charges have been filed to date.
Casaundra Perez, the girl’s aunt, claimed her niece was raped by a Marine at Camp Pendleton barracks north of San Diego and claims investigators have tried to pin the blame on the minor and “swept the incident under the rug” to get.
The 14-year-old girl, who is said to have an intellectual disability, was found on June 28 at the base
As part of her efforts, Perez is demanding that the name of the unknown marine be released to the family and that an impartial investigation into the case be conducted.
“Eighty-five days ago this happened and the suspect’s identity has still not been released, either privately to the family, to the victim, or to the public,” Chloe Cheyenne, founder of CommunityX, told the outlet.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service confirmed that an investigation is still ongoing, the LA Times reported.
“As always, NCIS is committed to addressing all allegations of criminal conduct that jeopardize the preparedness of the Department of the Navy and the safety of children in the communities where our family lives and works,” spokesman Jeff Houston said in a statement.
Photos of the moment a Marine from Combat Logistics Battalion 5 being questioned the day the girl was found emerged soon after the incident, and NCIS confirmed the fact.
Perez has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of the investigation, noting that it has been nearly 90 days since she was discovered.
The family revealed to the outlet that they are “concerned” that the Navy has not issued a military protection order.
The order would prevent military personnel under investigation from contacting alleged victims and would also reveal the name of the marine to the family.
An unidentified Marine, pictured here, has been taken into custody in connection with the girl’s disappearance but has not yet been charged with criminal charges
A photo leaked online shows what appears to be a handwritten log from Camp Pendleton stating that an “underage female” was found in room 343
The girl went missing on June 10 from her home in Spring Valley, about 45 minutes south of the base, with Perez claiming her niece had spent June 28 and 29 there before she was discovered.
Perez claimed investigators had also accused her niece of communicating with the Marine, saying he was her boyfriend, despite not knowing his name.
She had also previously claimed that her niece, who has learning disabilities, was sold to the Marine for sex.
After the child was discovered on the base, a photo surfaced of the Marine being led outside for questioning in handcuffs.
In an earlier interview with NBC7 Perez said, “Something isn’t quite right. This is extremely frustrating, especially since NCIS doesn’t seem to share any information with us.”
“Right now it sounds more like they’re trying to control the story — that nothing was done wrong.”
Speaking to NBC San Diego, Perez called on fellow service members to come forward and shout out what happened on the base
A leaked photo posted online shows what appears to be a handwritten logbook from the San Diego base, stating that an “underage female” was found in room 343. However, it is stated that the girl was 13.
In a previous TikTok, Perez said, “Security looked her in the face and allowed this man to bring a minor to the base, where he then proceeded to have sex with her.
“Because of her age, she could not give this permission.”
The unknown marine is with Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group. It remains unclear whether he is still detained or is back at work.
The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office are also investigating the incident.
Relatives claimed that the girl ran away from her grandmother’s house while the victim’s grandmother told authorities she had done so several times before, but always returned.
Perez previously claimed that her niece was sold to a Marine as a sex slave and officials at the base tried to cover it up
After she was found, detectives from the San Diego Sheriff’s Office interviewed her and offered support services to her family.
The girl was not taken to hospital, officials said, but it is unclear if she suffered any injuries.
She has since been returned to her grandmother’s care, deputies said, but Perez fears military officials will retaliate against her family.
“If I go missing or get killed, those who might be responsible could be right here at Camp Pendleton,” she said in a video uploaded to TikTok.