California Dad Allegedly Assaulted 14-Year-Old Daughter Before Their Newborn Baby Was Found Dead on Remote Road

Authorities are searching for a 38‑year‑old man and his 14‑year‑old daughter after a newborn was found dead beside a road near Moss Landing, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said.

The infant, whom investigators are calling 'Baby Angelita,' was discovered on the morning of 1 August on the 100 block of Struve Road in northern Monterey County, where fire personnel confirmed the child was deceased at the scene. A post‑mortem forensic examination found signs of traumatic injury, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say evidence indicates the 14‑year‑old gave birth beside the road, placed the newborn on the ground and left the area. A Superior Court judge has issued an arrest warrant for the juvenile on suspicion of murder under California Penal Code §187(a), the Sheriff's Office said.

Sheriff Tina Nieto confirmed that 38‑year‑old Sergio Galvez Perez, of the Castroville–Salinas area, is the biological father of both the teenager and the infant.

Arrest warrants were obtained against Perez on suspicion of incest, lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, lewd acts with a minor, unlawful sexual intercourse, child concealment and child endangerment, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Detectives believe Perez is concealing the 14‑year‑old and preventing law enforcement from locating her.

Sheriff's Appeal: Teen May Be in Danger

Nieto said investigators want to find the girl to ensure her safety and obtain her account of what happened.

'I believe the 14‑year‑old might be in danger. That's my gut feeling as a sheriff,' Nieto said. 'She's 14, for God's sake. She's 14. She's a victim, too, even though she's a suspect.'

The Sheriff's Office urged the public not to approach or attempt to confront Perez and to call 911 if he is seen.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Perez or the 14‑year‑old is asked to contact Monterey County Sheriff's Det. Sgt. Nicholas Kennedy at (831) 755‑3773 or Det. Richard Geng at (831) 759‑7279; anonymous tips are accepted.

Mother Arrested: Flock Cameras Aided Investigation

Detectives arrested Ofelia Garcia Ortega, 36, of the Castroville–Salinas area, on suspicion of child endangerment (Penal Code §273a(a)). She was booked into the Monterey County Jail and later released after posting bail, the Sheriff's Office said. Ortega is the teenage girl's mother and is married to Sergio Galvez Perez, the man investigators say is concealing the teen.

Sheriff's Office spokesperson Eric Bixler said Flock automated licence‑plate‑reader cameras provided critical information that helped investigators rapidly develop leads involving a vehicle of interest associated with the murder investigation.

'I can say without that information we received from that camera, we may have never solved this case,' Bixler said. 'So that was very instrumental in solving this case, especially the speed in which it was done. Without it, it may have taken years or never.'

Charges and Status of the Investigation

The Sheriff's Office lists the following Penal Code sections in the warrants against Perez: §285 (incest), §288(a) (lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14), §288(c)(1) (lewd acts with a minor), §261.5(d) (unlawful sexual intercourse), §278.5(a) (child concealment) and §273a(a) (child endangerment).

'This remains an active murder investigation,' the Sheriff's Office said. The allegations have not been proven in court.