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US military police find missing 14-year-old girl in barracks on California Marine Corps base

Published:Monday | July 10, 2023 | 8:22 PM
The entrance to Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton is seen on September 22, 2015, in Oceanside, California. A Camp Pendleton Marine was detained for questioning after military police found a 14-year-old girl on base June 28, 2023. The girl's grandmother in San Diego reported her missing June 13. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Two weeks after a 14-year-old girl's grandmother reported that she had run away in early June, the teenager was found in an unusual location: Inside the barracks at a California Marine Corps base north of San Diego.

Federal law enforcement officials said Monday that they are investigating and had taken a Marine with the Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group into custody briefly for questioning. He has since been released to his command while the investigation continues, said Marine Captain Charles Palmer of the 1st Marine Logistics Group at Camp Pendleton, about 40 miles (65 kilometres) north of San Diego.

"This command takes this matter and all allegations very seriously," Palmer said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.

It was unclear how long the teenager was at the barracks and whether she was spotted by other Marines who reported her presence. She was found by military police during the day on June 28 after her grandmother had reported her missing on June 13. Military and law enforcement officials declined to release other details.

All visitors are stopped at the entrance to the sprawling base by Marines and required to show authorisation to enter the base. Marines are allowed to bring a visitor on base and into the barracks until a certain hour, which varies according to each building.

Single junior Marines are generally assigned to the barracks where most share a room with at least one other Marine. The rooms generally have two single beds, a small refrigerator, eating area, secretary desk, closet and wall lockers. The barracks also have common areas with pool tables and TVs.

It was also unclear how the girl and the Marine came into contact and whether they had met online or in person. Military officials declined to release the Marine's age or rank.

The case has been handed over to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the federal agency in charge of investigating Navy and Marine Corps criminal cases.

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