13-Year-Old Girl Missing, Public’s Help Needed to Find Her NR10404kr

August 17, 2010

***UPDATE***

At about 7 p.m., on Wednesday evening, August 18, 2010, Missions Area Officers had been searching for Missing Person Karina Valencia in the area of Glenoaks Boulevard and Oro Grande in Sylmar.  A female passenger in the front seat of a vehicle near that location looked at the officers and then quickly ducked down in her seat, trying to conceal herself.  The officers thought it was odd, and possibly Karina based on her physical description.  They conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and determined that it was Karina in the passenger seat.  She has been brought to Mission Station, along with the driver of the vehicle, a male Hispanic 20-years of age.

Detectives will be conducting interviews and continuing their investigation, but Karina appears to be well and will be reunited with her family shortly.  It is unknown at this time what, if anything, the driver will be charged with.

Los Angeles:  The family of Karina Valencia and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Karina, who has been missing since Saturday.

On August 14, 2010 at around 6:30 p.m., Karina was last seen at a friend’s birthday party in the 14800 block of Polk Street in LAPD’s Mission Area.  She has not had contact with her family since that time and there is great concern for her welfare.  It is possible that Karina met an unknown male on the popular website, MySpace, and left to meet up with him.  

Karina has been known to frequent Sylmar Park located at Polk Street and Bordon Avenue, as well as the Sylmar Library located 14561 Polk Street, Sylmar.  
 
Karina is described as a female Hispanic with long brown hair and brown eyes.  She stands about 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs approximately 90 pounds.  She was last seen wearing a white “Madonna” shirt and black shorts.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Karina Valencia is urged to contact LAPD Mission Division at 818-838-9800.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.