11-26-2011, 05:49 PM
VOLUSIA COUNTY --
A 1-year-old girl reported missing Saturday morning has been found safe, and her mother and a man have been arrested.
Officials said the girl, Lupita Gonzales, was reported missing early Saturday morning. However, investigators believe she may have been gone for more than 24 hours.
Gonzales was found Saturday afternoon under a bush in a field. Deputies say she appeared to be physically okay. She was taken to a hospital to be check out.
Deputies also say the man who reported her missing, Carlos Rivera, 23, was the one who told investigators the general location where he had left the child.
The initial call reporting Lupita as missing came in early Saturday morning.
The caller, now identified as Rivera, told dispatchers that he went to a party in Seville on Thursday and got drunk. He seemed confused and said he couldn’t remember much and thought he might still be drunk. But from what he could remember, there was a little girl at the party and now he doesn’t know what happened to her. The last time she was seen was Friday morning.
Deputies say the Rivera was at a party where illegal drugs were being used, and Lupita's mother, Leah Wiley, 30, was also at the party. They say Rivera walked away from the party at some point with the child, and has not explained why he left the girl in a field.
Rivera and Wiley were both arrested, with charges pending.
A 1-year-old girl reported missing Saturday morning has been found safe, and her mother and a man have been arrested.
Officials said the girl, Lupita Gonzales, was reported missing early Saturday morning. However, investigators believe she may have been gone for more than 24 hours.
Gonzales was found Saturday afternoon under a bush in a field. Deputies say she appeared to be physically okay. She was taken to a hospital to be check out.
Deputies also say the man who reported her missing, Carlos Rivera, 23, was the one who told investigators the general location where he had left the child.
The initial call reporting Lupita as missing came in early Saturday morning.
The caller, now identified as Rivera, told dispatchers that he went to a party in Seville on Thursday and got drunk. He seemed confused and said he couldn’t remember much and thought he might still be drunk. But from what he could remember, there was a little girl at the party and now he doesn’t know what happened to her. The last time she was seen was Friday morning.
Deputies say the Rivera was at a party where illegal drugs were being used, and Lupita's mother, Leah Wiley, 30, was also at the party. They say Rivera walked away from the party at some point with the child, and has not explained why he left the girl in a field.
Rivera and Wiley were both arrested, with charges pending.
The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.