Aunt Comes Forth to Identify Mystery Girl

It was a “concerned citizen” who first determined Monday that something was wrong with the 9-year-old girl playing with other children on a Santa Ana street. It turned out that the girl, who speaks only Spanish, did not know where she lived.

A police search of the neighborhood produced no home, nor parents or relatives of the girl, identified as Norma Garcia. And no missing persons report had been filed for a girl her age.

Heard Radio Broadcast

But Thursday, after Norma had been in the county’s care for three days, someone finally came forward. A Costa Mesa woman who identified herself as Norma’s aunt had heard a radio broadcast about the girl and gave police information about her family.

Norma is expected to remain at Orangewood, the county’s home for neglected and abused children, while Santa Ana police try to contact her mother.

Police spokeswoman Maureen Thomas described Norma, whose last name was not released (Garcia is a middle name), as “very well-mannered with a sweet disposition.”

Norma had told police Monday night that she had just recently arrived in Orange County with her mother and a sister. But Thomas said she appeared confused and could provide few details to help them locate relatives.

The little girl provided no information about how she entered the country, and it would be “speculative” to believe that a relative did not come forward for fear that immigration authorities would be notified, Thomas said.

She was found playing in the 1100 block of South Garnsey Street, and police believe that she lives in “the same general area.”

Officials are still deciding whether to pursue criminal neglect charges against any relatives.

Norma told officers that she is 9 but could not remember her birthdate, Thomas said. She is 4 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs 55 pounds, and has brown hair and pierced ears with gold stud earrings.

“She’s a really cute little girl,” Thomas said.

No information was available about the girl’s father, she added.