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Texas Girl Found Safe After 4-Year Ordeal in Mexico
28 Jan
Summary
- A 12-year-old girl was found safe in Mexico after being missing for over four years.
- Her father is accused of kidnapping her and fleeing to Mexico in April 2021.
- The U.S. Marshals Service reunited the child with her family in Texas.
A 12-year-old girl reported missing from Texas more than four years ago has been found safe in Mexico. U.S. Marshals Service officers successfully recovered Emerald Garcia on January 20 and reunited her with her family in Corpus Christi.
Emerald was 7 years old when she disappeared from her Portland, Texas, home in April 2021. Her father, Neftaly Garcia, was accused of kidnapping her and fleeing to Mexico. He now faces kidnapping charges and potential federal offenses.
The San Patricio County District Attorney stated that investigators never gave up searching for Emerald. The U.S. Marshals Service collaborated with domestic and international partners, including Mexican law enforcement, to track leads.
A key break in the case came when Mexican officials initiated a request for a provisional arrest warrant. This international cooperation led to the successful recovery of Emerald, who is now beginning her healing process with her mother.
