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Sarah Dallof and Marc Giauque reportingThe family of a missing West Valley girl is pleading for your help to find a 15-year-old who has been gone for almost 10 days.
Police believe 15-year-old Flor Escobar left of her own free will with a 30-year-old family friend, and they may be headed out of the country.
Flor's father is devastated. The last time anyone saw her was on March 3. She was getting ready for school but never arrived at Kennedy Junior High.
Police believe she left with family friend Marvin Garcia, who also uses the last name of Moreira. He's 30 years old, and Flor is 15.
Her family stumbled across a series of e-mails between the two. Her father, Rodolfo Escobar, forbade her to see Garcia and told him to stay away, but it didn't work. Her father said, "We've always taken care of our daughter, and she's gone, and it's easy for him to take her, but it's not easy for us, and we'd be very grateful for your help."
Garcia has family in both California and Illinois. He's originally from Guatemala, and the two may also be headed there. Police say Escobar took her passport with her.
Capt. Tom McLachlan, spokesman for the West Valley City Police Department, said, "We don't feel that she is in any physical danger, but for a 15-year-old to be in the company of a 30-year-old with the possibility of going out of state, or possibly even out of the country, is very concerning to us."
Police say his car is still at his residence, and they are looking through airline and bus passenger lists.
They say Garcia could face charges, especially if he's taken Flor out of state, or if they're able to prove they've had a sexual relationship.
There also is reason to believe Flor is pregnant. Her family says if she returns, they'll welcome her and the baby with open arms.
If you have any information, call the West Valley City Police Department at 801-840-4000.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
