The action recently taken by an Idaho State Police dispatch supervisor which helped locate a missing Magic Valley teenage girl “ … made the difference between this girl being returned to her family and being abducted by people who could have caused her harm,” said ISP Colonel Kedrick Wills.
When a 14-year-old girl was reported missing on Thursday, April 16th from the Rupert area, an Idaho State Police Regional Communications Supervisor's attention to detail and quick action made the difference, authorities said.
(Although the girl’s name was released in previous media reports, we have elected not to reveal her name for this article, since she is now considered a crime victim.)
When the notification came into the ISP Emergency Communications Center, it was originally received as what’s referred to in police circles as an attempt-to-locate report for a missing juvenile, possibly a runaway.
“But instead of just forwarding the information to ISP troopers and other law enforcement officers, RCS DeLisa Orren dug a little deeper into the information, and what she found helped law enforcement officials issue an AMBER Alert and recover the teen,” according to an ISP news release.
"The goal of the Idaho State Police is changing and saving lives, and this is an outstanding example of ISP saving lives. The action DeLisa took that night made the difference between this girl being returned to her family and being abducted by people who could have caused her harm,” Wills stated.
Although the information included in the attempt-to-locate reported suggested the juvenile had possibly run away, Orren began looking further into the people possibly associated with the missing teen. “When she found information that linked (the men who later became suspects) to previous assaults and human trafficking, she worked quickly to contact the Rupert Police detectives and connect them with the Idaho AMBER Alert System,” the release stated.
As a result of Orren's efforts, in less than 24 hours after the juvenile was reported missing, an AMBER Alert was issued, and the girl was located by California Highway Patrol troopers at a rest stop near Donner Pass, as the Idaho Statesman reported.
Sergio Alcantar, 18, and Carmelo Villanueva-Galarza, 35, were arrested and charged with kidnapping. Police say the investigation in continuing, and additional charges for human trafficking could be pending.
Three other juveniles, who were with their non-custodial mother and shortly due back in Idaho with the custodial parent, were also located with the Idaho teen. The woman’s name was not released.
The two suspects waived extradition and were returned to Idaho.
According to the Cassia County Jail’s website, Villanueva-Galarza was booked for second degree kidnapping and sexual abuse of a child under the age of sixteen; Alcantar was charged with second degree kidnapping and rape.
The girl has been temporarily placed with child protective services.
Since the investigation is continuing, detectives would not reveal any additional details.
“The action taken by Orren is not uncharacteristic for her or any of the people who work in ISP's two emergency communications centers. These people are genuinely dedicated to serving the citizens of Idaho and take the role they play very personally. Because of their work, this young girl was returned safely to her family," said ISP Captain Kevin Haight.
Orren has served with the Idaho State Police for over fifteen years and is a supervisor at ISP's emergency communications center in Meridian.
(photos courtesy: Cassia County Jail)
