MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (TCN) — A 36-year-old mother has been arrested and charged in connection with the alleged endangerment of her teenage daughter, whom investigators say gave birth to her father’s baby before being found in Mexico weeks later.
On Aug. 1, the body of a newborn girl, nicknamed Baby Angelita, was found along the roadside.
On Sept. 6, an Amber Alert was issued by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office for 14-year-old Diana Galvez Ortega and her father, 38-year-old Sergio Galvez Perez.
They had last been seen in a car without plates on Aug. 4, and authorities believed that Galvez Perez was hiding his daughter to avoid arrest. According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, investigators believe Galvez Ortega gave birth to Baby Angelita before leaving her on the roadside; they believe that her father was also the baby’s biological father.
On Oct. 5, the sheriff’s office announced Galvez Ortega had been found safe in Mexico, and her father was arrested. According to Sheriff Tina Nieto, “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.”
The following day, the teen’s mother, Ofelia Garcia Ortega, was arrested, according to the sheriff’s office. She was charged with misdemeanor displaying or possessing a forged identification card; permitting a child to suffer or be endangered; and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Investigators allege Garcia Ortega used falsified documentation to force Galvez Ortega to do agricultural work and drive without a license, and allowed her to remain out of school. According to the sheriff’s office, her bail was set at $150,000.
