Police Fear Man Took Girlfriend, 12, to Mexico

A 30-year-old man who was allowed to court a 12-year-old Mid-City girl has kidnapped her and may be headed to Mexico, police said Friday.

Geronimo Luevanos Galvan was last seen at 1 p.m. Thursday with Petra Ponce at a McDonald’s restaurant near Pico Boulevard and Hi Point Street, said LAPD Lt. Stan Ludwig.

There, Galvan gave the girl’s 17-year-old brother a note expressing his “affection for the girl and his desire to be with her,” Ludwig said. The girl left voluntarily with Galvan, he said. An unnamed witness in the area told police Galvan mentioned going to Mexico.

However, for reasons that detectives said they are still puzzling over, the brother chose to wait seven hours before telling his parents about the note.

“Had he mentioned the note sooner, it would have given us a big head start,” Ludwig said.

Detectives said they were further befuddled that the girl’s parents, whose names have not been released, would allow a romantic relationship between the man and their daughter. Police said Galvan met the girl more than six months ago in the neighborhood and got permission from her parents to visit her frequently at their house.

“We’re still surprised parents would allow this to happen,” Ludwig said. “Basically, we have a 12-year-old dealing with a 30-year-old man.... Because of her age, she cannot give consent.”

Three of the couple’s five children have been taken into protective custody, Ludwig said.

Police have notified the California Highway Patrol, the Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and other law enforcement agencies, he said.

Galvan was driving a blue 1987 Honda Civic with the license plate number 4XQP889. An Amber alert was not issued because there was no forcible abduction, Ludwig said.

Detectives are still interviewing the parents and the teenage brother. Ludwig said police suspect that Galvan has had prior contact with at least one other underage girl. He said he hopes any victims will come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (213) 847-3998 or a 24-hour number at (213) 485-4022.