A statewide Amber Alert for a 4-year-old girl abducted in Los Angeles has intensified after authorities confirmed the case is also tied to a homicide investigation.
Investigators say Daleza Fregoso was taken around 4 a.m. Sunday by 40-year-old Ruben Fregoso. The two were last seen near Alsace Avenue and Ferndale Street in the West Adams area, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officials have not confirmed the relationship between the child and the suspect, despite sharing the same last name.
Authorities said the SUV believed to be connected to the case — a white 2019 Land Rover Discovery — has been located, but both the child and the suspect remain missing.
A Los Angeles Police Department detective confirmed Tuesday that a homicide investigation is connected to the disappearance, though details remain limited.
Investigators believe the pair could be in Los Angeles, Riverside or San Diego counties.
What we know about the Amber Alert
Authorities describe Daleza Fregoso as about 3 feet tall, weighing roughly 45 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Ruben Fregoso is described as about 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing around 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
The Amber Alert was issued Monday evening by the California Highway Patrol on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police are urging anyone who sees the girl or the suspect to call 911.
What an Amber Alert means in California
An Amber Alert is a high-level public warning used when authorities believe a child has been abducted and is in immediate danger.
In California, law enforcement must meet strict criteria before issuing the alert, including confirmation of an abduction, belief the child is at risk of serious injury or death, and having information that could help the public locate the child.
Once issued, alerts are broadcast widely — including on cellphones, highway signs, TV and radio — to quickly spread critical details about the child, suspect and any associated vehicle.
The goal is to get the public involved in the earliest hours of a case, when authorities say tips and sightings can be crucial.
What happens next
Investigators have not released additional details about the homicide investigation or how it is connected to the child’s disappearance.
The case remains active as authorities continue searching across multiple Southern California counties.
Officials are asking the public to stay alert and report any possible sightings to law enforcement immediately.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: SoCal Amber Alert intensifies — what to know right now
Reporting by James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
