Missing W. Jordan girl found safe in California

By Bob Mims The Salt Lake Tribune

Published: November 29, 2013 1:30 pm
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Police confirmed Friday that a West Jordan girl missing for a week has been found safe in Southern California and her adult male companion arrested.

Mia Garcia, 14, is believed to have run away from her Utah home on Nov. 23, having last been seen on a Joel P. Jensen Middle School security camera in the company of the 19-year-old man. The two left the campus in a dark-colored compact car, police said.

Investigation revealed that the suspect had family and friends in Fontana, Calif., but further details on exactly how, when and where in the San Bernardino County city she was located were not immediately available.

Garcia was in the custody of child welfare officials Friday while her Utah family made arrangements to bring her home, police said.

The suspect was booked into San Bernardino County Jail on suspicion of child kidnapping.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims

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