Missing Rohnert Park Girl Found In Salinas With 18-Year-Old Man

ROHNERT PARK, CA — Authorities with the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and the FBI have located a 15-year-old Rohnert Park girl who went missing a week ago Friday. Officers from the Salinas Police Department, agents from the FBI and detectives from Rohnert Park found Veronica Elizabeth Prado in an apartment in Salinas.

"Officers also located an 18-year-old Humberto Gonzalez-Martinez from Salinas, in the apartment with the missing juvenile," Rohnert Park DPS Deputy Chief Aaron Johnson said. "Gonzalez-Martinez was interviewed and ultimately arrested in connection with the disappearance of Veronica."

The 15-year-old Rohnert Park girl was reported missing Friday morning, May 15, by her parents. They told police they woke up to find her missing from her bedroom, but she'd left them a note saying she was leaving but would be back, and not to call police, Rohnert Park DPS Sgt. Keith Astley told Patch.

Police said Veronica went missing voluntarily and that they had little to go on.

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Her cell phone reportedly pinged around 3 a.m. Friday behind Walmart in Rohnert Park, then went silent, Veronica's parents told members of the media.

The police investigation, which included interviews with Veronica's friends and family members, revealed Veronica met someone on the internet — possibly through a dating app for teens called Hoop — and he ended up being a "secret" boyfriend, Deputy Chief Johnson said.

"The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety as well as the FBI began a cooperative investigation into the whereabouts of the missing girl," Johnson said. "After approximately 5 days of investigation, the FBI and Rohnert Park Detectives were able to develop information she may be in the Salinas area."

It was around 8 p.m. Thursday when authorities found Veronica about 150 miles south of Rohnert Park in an apartment in Salinas with Gonzalez-Martinez, Johnson said.

Rohnert Park DPS announced late Thursday night that Veronica had been found. At the time, they said she would be reunited with her family, and that she had spoken with victim specialists from the FBI to assess her mental health and welfare.

According to Rohnert Park DPS, Gonzalez-Martinez would be charged with arranging to meet with a minor, child abduction, unlawful sexual intercourse and sending harmful matter to a minor.

"He will be transported to the Sonoma County Jail where he will be booked on the listed charges," Johnson said. "Gonzalez-Martinez' bail will be determined when he is booked."

Jail records at noon Friday showed Gonzalez-Martinez has since been booked into Sonoma County jail. His bail has been set at $120,000 pending a court appearance set for Tuesday. His booking charges were felony child endangerment, child abduction, arranging to meet with a minor, statutory rape and sending harmful matter to a minor.