AZ-10 year old Damaris Herrera-Lopez missing from Yuma

[Idaho4Groenes]

Yuma Girl Missing

The Yuma Police Department is asking for your help in finding a missing little girl.

Damaris Herrera Lopez, 10, has been missing since Wednesday night. Police say she took off from her parents at McDonald's restaurant on 4th Avenue after she became upset. She has not been seen since. She is 5'3" and weighs 95 pounds.

http://www.kyma.com/slp.php?idN=1478&cat=Local%20News

[Zanko]

Is there a photo of her anywhere?

[Idaho4Groenes]

Here is her NCMEC poster, with picture:

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1111879&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US

[Idaho4Groenes]

This 10 year old CHILD is still missing. Almost a week now...

[SleuthinCa]

This is in my local area, very sad. Her parents were arguing while they were all at McDonalds and Damaris just took off running. It's alarming that they haven't found her yet. Yuma is directly on the border, I hope she didn't get taken to Mexico.

[Zanko]

The initial report says 5'3 and 95 pounds, the NCMEC says 4'9 and 78 pounds. That's a big difference.

[Idaho4Groenes]

Wow, Zanko. That is quite a difference. I think I would go with the NCMEC's info most of the time, though. But either way, the incorrect info should be updated.

Praying for Damaris. Thankfully, if she is lost, we don't have to worry about freezing temperatures in Yuma. I hope that she just ran to a friends. But it's been nearly a week...

[SleuthinCa]

Wow, Zanko. That is quite a difference. I think I would go with the NCMEC's info most of the time, though. But either way, the incorrect info should be updated.

Praying for Damaris. Thankfully, if she is lost, we don't have to worry about freezing temperatures in Yuma. I hope that she just ran to a friends. But it's been nearly a week...

We're actually having unusually low night-time temps this week, Friday is supposed to be in the 20s overnight. I'm hoping that she is found safely, it's been a long time. I really hope she didn't end up in Mexico.

[Sheromom]

Ugh- and any time the weather cools, the poisonous critters come out by the dozens! I hope she is safe; she has been missing too long.

[Idaho4Groenes]

Wow, I had no idea that it was getting that cold down there. I hope she didn't end up in Mexico too. And those poisonous critters don't sound too pleasant either. I hope that she plays "hide and seek" very well, and will be found soon. It's been too long.

[jashrema]

Good Lord! Why isn't this being broadcast? Is there an Amber Alert since its been so long? Are we sure that the story the parents are telling is true? I find it odd that they would just let her "take off".
I hope to God she isn't in Mexico too! Especially in a bordertown.
*Prayers for her and her family*

[Sheromom]

Only seven miles to Los Algodones. I wonder if she has relatives there?

[Idaho4Groenes]

I wish we could find out where she has relatives. But I have seen very very few news articles about her. I don't think I've even seen her parents names mentioned anywhere. That's pretty much put an end to any searching for other names. This little 10 year old has been missing for a week now, and there's nothing. Just a few short articles from the day she went missing. This is extremely frustrating.

[Sheromom]

This is just crazy; now they are saying YMCA rather than McDonalds! I did live in Yuma for a year, and unfortunately, I'm not surprised at the lack of response from the police department there. The child evidently has threathened to harm herself before. She's just a little girl; why didn't one of the parents chase after her? I feel so bad for her!

Along with the ongoing custody issues between the parents, Damaris has made statements to harm herself. Both parents deny having any knowledge of her whereabouts and the Yuma Police Department is actively investigating all leads.
http://www.ci.yuma.az.us/news_12335.htm

[gaia227]

So I'm guessing that there is no surveillance video of this family at the McDonalds or the YMCA which would corroborate their story. Damaris started to run away and they couldn't catch her? Where the heck has she been staying? She's TEN. When I was 10 and I would pack my little suitcase when I was pissed about something I would make it to the end of the driveway and suddenly the world seemed very big and scary. There is no way I had the life skills to take care of myself. Granted I probably grew up in a different situation but still - she's ten yrs old.
I just don't know if I believe the parents.

[Idaho4Groenes]

Wow. This is just crazy. From what I can tell, both the McDonalds and the YMCA are both on 4th, but I'm not sure how far apart. But the change in story is odd. Story changes are not a good thing most of the time. It's really not that hard to tell the difference between a McDonalds and a YMCA.... This girl needs to be found now. Prayers for Damaris.

[Sheromom]

I wonder what upset her so much. Most likely, either her parents were arguing and not paying any attention to her or she didn't want to be returned to whichever parent was supposed to be taking her home.

[SleuthinCa]

There's definitely something suspect about the whole situation. I, too, don't understand how a TEN YEAR OLD just up and runs away without her parents being able to catch her/stop her. And the news has been saying McDonalds, now it's saying YMCA. Weird, weird. I'm also not surprised that Yuma PD isn't handling it well.

[Idaho4Groenes]

I can't believe there is still NOTHING on this girl. SleuthinCa, earlier you mentioned the weather in the area. I guess I assumed the "Ca" in your name meant Cali. Is that correct or are you in the Yuma area? If you are, have you heard anything on local news? My dad has friends in Yuma. Tomorrow I will try to get him to call them and ask if they have even heard anything on the news about Damaris. As far as online news, I haven't been able to find anything recent.

[MeoW333]

So I'm guessing that there is no surveillance video of this family at the McDonalds or the YMCA which would corroborate their story. Damaris started to run away and they couldn't catch her? Where the heck has she been staying? She's TEN. When I was 10 and I would pack my little suitcase when I was pissed about something I would make it to the end of the driveway and suddenly the world seemed very big and scary. There is no way I had the life skills to take care of myself. Granted I probably grew up in a different situation but still - she's ten yrs old.
I just don't know if I believe the parents.

I would like to see some surveillance video footage as well. Ungoing custody issues with the parents; the girl has made threats to hurt herself.. doesn't sound good.

[capoly]

Girl, 10, still missing despite search efforts


http://www.yumasun.com/news/despite_46615___article.html/efforts_girl.html

[SleuthinCa]

I can't believe there is still NOTHING on this girl. SleuthinCa, earlier you mentioned the weather in the area. I guess I assumed the "Ca" in your name meant Cali. Is that correct or are you in the Yuma area? If you are, have you heard anything on local news? My dad has friends in Yuma. Tomorrow I will try to get him to call them and ask if they have even heard anything on the news about Damaris. As far as online news, I haven't been able to find anything recent.

I'm in Ca, but I am in the Yuma area. Just across the ca/az border.

There have been updates on the nightly news, but I haven't seen any posters or anything. And the news updates haven't been anymore than we have on here.

[Idaho4Groenes]

Thanks for the info on what's happening locally, SleuthinCa. At least there is something on the news. And thanks for the new article, capoly.

This new article says that the McDonalds is right next to the YMCA, and she ran from the McDonalds to the alley behind the YMCA. So that clears that one up for the most part. But I would still like to know who saw her running. If it was both parents, or just one, or if anyone else was there too. Hoping that they find her soon.

ETA: Some of the comments posted on that article are very interesting. I'm not sure of their validity, but very interesting.

[capoly]

Police "Struggling" to Clear Parent of Missing Girl

The Yuma Police Department says it's investigating both parents in the case of a missing child. Damaris Herrera-Lopez vanished on December 10th after running away from the McDonald's parking lot on Fourth Avenue. Detectives say it is standard practice to take a close look at both parents, but they also say they are "struggling" to clear one of the parents. They will not say which parent is under more scrutiny.


http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=9568205&nav=menu613_2_6


Father pleading for daughter's safe return (w/video)

http://www.yumasun.com/news/daughter_46664___article.html/father_pleading.html

[Idaho4Groenes]

Thanks for the articles Capoly. 2 weeks tomorrow...

I wonder if they are thinking that one of the parents has her hidden somewhere, or if they think that she was harmed by one of them. The father certainly seems to be trying to get things taken care of and find Damaris.

An interesting comment left by someone on an earlier article...like I said earlier, I have no idea of its reliability, but based on the info that was just released, I think there's a good chance it's right.

"I wonder why the Sun failed to mention that when the parents had court on Tuesday, the Judge ordered the mother in contempt and told the mother that she believes she has the child and she has until December 24th to produce her or she will be booked into the Cunty Jail for Contempt of Court for not giving the child back to the legal guardian, Damaris' Father." http://www.yumasun.com/news/despite_46615___article.html/efforts_girl.html

[capoly]

Thanks for the articles Capoly. 2 weeks tomorrow...

I wonder if they are thinking that one of the parents has her hidden somewhere, or if they think that she was harmed by one of them. The father certainly seems to be trying to get things taken care of and find Damaris.

An interesting comment left by someone on an earlier article...like I said earlier, I have no idea of its reliability, but based on the info that was just released, I think there's a good chance it's right.

"I wonder why the Sun failed to mention that when the parents had court on Tuesday, the Judge ordered the mother in contempt and told the mother that she believes she has the child and she has until December 24th to produce her or she will be booked into the Cunty Jail for Contempt of Court for not giving the child back to the legal guardian, Damaris' Father." http://www.yumasun.com/news/despite_46615___article.html/efforts_girl.html

Went to read comment section. Actually for a comment section those people were pretty decent with their exchanges. I agree that there may be some validity with the court comment. Possibly why news is hard to come by. We'll see what happens tomorrow with mother.

[SleuthinCa]

She is in Mexico, and her brother and mother were involved. Her brother has been arrested.
http://www.yumasun.com/articles/arrested_46694___article.html/brother_missing.html

[hoppyfrog]

She is in Mexico, and her brother and mother were involved. Her brother has been arrested.
http://www.yumasun.com/articles/arrested_46694___article.html/brother_missing.html

To clarify, authorities believe she and her mother are in Mexico and are trying to locate them.

[capoly]

Am glad to read the child is safe. That said, no matter what the reasons were behind her actions, the mother did far more harm than good. Prayers for both her children.

[Idaho4Groenes]

Wow. I am glad that Damaris is safe. What a mess all around though. I hope that they can get things worked out and that she can be home for Christmas.

[thefragile7393]

Ehhh....she hasn't been found yet. No one knows if she's safe or not technically.

[capoly]

Brother of missing Yuma girl charged in her disappearance

The older brother allegedly involved in the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl nearly three weeks ago was charged with three felonies on Monday, including kidnapping.

http://www.yumasun.com/news/yuma_46770___article.html/brother_charged.html

[Idaho4Groenes]

Wow. I figured they would have gotten this all taken care of by now. Poor Damaris. Who knows what she has been going through or been told by now. It sounds like they have a pretty good idea where she is though. I hope they can bring her home soon.

[Idaho4Groenes]

Bumping for Damaris. It appears that she still hasn't been brought home.

[Idaho4Groenes]

Bumping again. Damaris is still missing.

[thefragile7393]

Has she returned yet, does anyone know?

[Idaho4Groenes]

According to NCMEC, she is still missing.

[Idaho4Groenes]

Bumping for Damaris. Now missing for a year.

Added to Charley Project today: http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/h/herrera-lopez_damaris.html