Danica snuck off to meet her new boyfriend and never returned.
16-year old Danica told her grandmother she was going to an after-school dance program near her home in San Joaquin, however when her grandmother went to pick her up a few hours later, Danica wasn’t there. Her grandmother was frantic and filed a police report, but law enforcement considered Danica a “runaway” rather than an “abduction” so it wasn’t treated as an urgent priority.
Our investigative team immediately interviewed her friends and family and quickly figured out the name and address of a new boyfriend, whom Danica had met at a shopping mall prior to her disappearance. Our team then used confidential informants to spread the word that a new wave of investigation would be starting if Danica were not returned safely. 24 hours later, Danica was returned, walking in a daze in very inappropriate clothing. Our team talked to the parents on the telephone as they drove Danica to St. Joseph’s Hospital Emergency Room. Her speech was slurred, and she was unable to answer simple questions. We contacted the non-emergency dispatcher and alerted them to signs of human trafficking and other crimes. We also suggested law enforcement call in the Sexual Assault Response Team as the dispatchers thought it was “only” a recovered missing child.
Danica is now home safe.
Today, predators can reach vulnerable children through phones, social media, gaming platforms, and the internet, often before families realize something is wrong. Finding Kids responds through three core programs: Recover. Care. Target. We help locate missing and exploited children, support families during and after recovery, and work with law enforcement to identify and disrupt those who exploit youth. Our work continues after a child is found because recovery is only the beginning. By combining investigations, aftercare, and prevention, we help children return safely to their homes, schools, and communities while building a future where every vulnerable child receives help before crisis becomes exploitation. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly towards keeping kids safe. We cannot do this work without your support.
*Names has been changed to protect the victim’s identity.