A frantic search is underway in Los Angeles for a four-year-old girl who was abducted after her mother is believed to have been murdered. Daleza Fregoso, 4, was last seen early Sunday on the corner of Ferndale Street and Alsace Avenue in the Mid-City neighborhood, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Amber Alert Issued
The Los Angeles Police Department issued an Amber Alert for Daleza on Monday, urging the community to be on the lookout for a 2019 white Land Rover Discovery with a California license plate. Ruben Fregoso, 40, has been named as the suspect in the abduction. Authorities have not disclosed the relationship between Fregoso and the child.
Law enforcement later reported that the vehicle had been located in San Diego County, but the child and suspect remain at large.
Link to Homicide Investigation
LAPD investigators told local Fox affiliate Fox 11 LA that the abduction is connected to a death investigation involving the child's mother. Police believe Fregoso allegedly killed Daleza's mother before abducting her over the weekend. A detective with the LAPD confirmed to KTLA that the child's disappearance is tied to a homicide investigation but could not provide further details.
Authorities received a report of the death on Sunday evening and later issued the Amber Alert for Daleza. The mother's identity has not been disclosed, and her relationship to Fregoso remains unclear. The LAPD did not confirm the homicide investigation when asked by the Daily Mail.
Description of the Child and Suspect
Daleza is described as 3 feet tall, weighing approximately 45 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Authorities said it is unknown what clothing she was wearing when last seen. Ruben Fregoso is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs around 200 pounds, and also has black hair and brown eyes. His last known address is on Alsace Avenue, near where he and Daleza were last seen, according to public records.
The LAPD told the Daily Mail that no further updates are available, but the investigation remains active. The Daily Mail has also reached out to the CHP for comment.
Authorities have asked anyone with information on Daleza's whereabouts to call 911. An Amber Alert is issued when a child is believed to be in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death. Amber stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. The majority of Amber Alerts involve a child's parent, guardian, or relative. The CHP has been designated as the state's leading investigative agency for Amber Alerts since 2002.
