FBI investigating mysterious disappearance of 4-year-old girl who was last seen in 2015
The FBI is investigating the mysterious disappearance of a 4-year-old Oxnard girl who was last seen in 2015 and whose parents have been arrested after they refused to provide authorities with details about her whereabouts, police said.
A $10,000 reward has been offered for details about Kimberly Lopez, who was last seen March 10, 2015, when a social worker from Ventura County Children and Family Services visited a family member’s home in the 900 block of Denver Place, according to the Oxnard Police Department.
Kimberly, who was previously under the care of the family services agency, was in the custody of her father, Omar Lopez, at the time. Kimberly’s mother, Mayra Chavez-Lopez, was allowed to visit her, but only under the supervision of Omar Lopez and his mother.
More than a year went by when the agency received a call from someone reporting concerns about Kimberly’s welfare, police said in a statement.
Children and Family Services workers went to family’s home and tried to check on Kimberly several times, but her parents told them she was living with relatives in Mexico, police said.
Her parents, however, were unable to provide documentation backing up that claim, police said.
In September, social workers declared her missing and asked Oxnard police to help them find her. The family services agency has obtained a court order to place Kimberly into protective custody when she is found.
Kimberly’s parents were arrested on Oct. 7 because they have not been cooperating with authorities and are not providing accurate information about their daughter’s whereabouts, police spokeswoman Melissa Valdez said.
Investigators with the police department, the FBI and the Ventura County district attorney’s office and sheriff’s department have talked to family members, friends and associates of Kimberly’s parents.
Authorities said investigators think that Kimberly could still be in California or Mexico, specifically Tijuana, Los Reyes, Michoacán or Guadalajara.
“We don’t have any evidence to lead us to believe Kimberly is deceased,” Valdez said..
Anyone with information on Kimberly’s whereabouts is urged to call (805) 200-2370 or text “BUSTED” to Crime Stoppers plus your message to 274673.
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