A missing Gilroy teen is home more than five weeks after
disappearing alongside her 24-year-old boyfriend
– a man police are seeking for statutory rape.
Gilroy – A missing Gilroy teen is home more than five weeks after disappearing alongside her 24-year-old boyfriend – a man police are seeking for statutory rape.
Wednesday, 16-year-old Monique Carabajal text-messaged her mother Julia Inigo from a Save Mart in Modesto, asking for a ride home. Inigo made the nearly two-hour drive to bring her daughter back to Gilroy.
“I’m so glad that she’s home,” said Inigo, “and I know it was hard for her to leave.”
Carabajal was unharmed, though her mother described her as “scared.” Police believe that Carabajal was with her boyfriend, 24-year-old David Campos, in Modesto, and are actively seeking Campos, now listed as Gilroy’s No. 1 Most Wanted for more than 80 days. Campos is wanted for statutory rape. His bail is set at $20,000 bail, police said.
Campos’ mother, who contacted the Dispatch last month, upset by media coverage of the police search for her son, declined to comment Thursday.
Campos and Carabajal were spotted together in Hollister Aug. 15, but vanished before a San Benito County Sheriff’s deputy could reach them. The teen has run away from home several times in the past, usually to be with Campos.
Inigo, who solicited donations for a reward fund for Carabajal’s return, said the family will use the $365 raised through the fund to obtain a restraining order against Campos.
