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Fourteen-year-old Diana Galvez Ortega has been rescued in Mexico and is in the care of local authorities, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Her father, Sergio Galvez Perez, was arrested during the operation.

In my report, I examine the rescue announcement, the sheriff’s handling of the case, and questions about the murder arrest warrant previously announced for Diana. Prosecutors said on September 2 that they had made no charging decision against her.

Perez faces allegations of sexually abusing his daughter. Those allegations have not been proven in court. Diana’s safety, care and recovery remain the immediate priority.

Questions are growing over the handling of a missing 14-year-old girl at the center of a national case.

According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, the girl was sexually assaulted and impregnated by her father before giving birth on the side of a road. The baby died, and authorities later announced they were pursuing a murder case against the teenager. Her father is now accused of concealing her from investigators.

More than a month into the investigation, major questions remain: Where is she? Is she safe? Why has no Amber Alert been issued? And could publicly presenting her as wanted for murder have made her more afraid to come forward?

The Sheriff’s Office has also highlighted the role of Flock surveillance cameras in this investigation. If that technology can help locate missing people, why has this child still not been found?

A county employee who says he personally discovered human remains along Old Stage Road outside Salinas has provided me with photographs and additional details about what he says was at the scene.

According to the employee, the remains included a human skull and other bones. He also described finding knives, candles, burned money, decapitated chicken heads, animal horns, small statues, feathers and objects he believed resembled voodoo dolls. He characterized the collection as possible witchcraft-related paraphernalia and said the scene appeared ritualistic.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed human remains were discovered in the 400 block of Old Stage Road. However, investigators have not confirmed that witchcraft, voodoo or any type of ritual was involved, and I have not independently verified the purpose or significance of the objects described by the source.

The photographs were provided to me by the county employee who says he discovered the scene. The identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding how the remains ended up there have not been publicly established.

Santa Cruz Police have confirmed officers responded to reports of shots fired in a parking lot near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on the evening of August 3.

Police say no one was struck by gunfire, there were no reported injuries and there is no active threat to the public. The scene has been secured.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains active.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit at 831-420-5995.

UPDATE: Santa Cruz Police say two 17-year-old juveniles have been identified and arrested in connection with the Aug. 3 shooting near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Police say both juveniles were arrested in Ceres with assistance from the Ceres Police Department and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team.

No injuries were reported in the shooting. The case remains an active and ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Santa Cruz Police at 831-420-5995.

An infant was found deceased Saturday, August 1, as the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office began investigating two separate discoveries of human remains.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Fire/EMS crews and deputies responded just after 8:30 a.m. to the 100 block of Struve Road in North Monterey County after an infant was located. Fire personnel confirmed the infant was deceased.

At approximately 9:55 a.m., deputies were called to the 400 block of Old Stage Road in Salinas after a county employee found what appeared to be human remains.

The Sheriff’s Office has not said whether the incidents are connected. Both investigations remain active, and no further details have been released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office at 831-755-3700. 

A motorcycle crash near the Lighthouse Avenue tunnel in Monterey caused a major traffic backup Thursday afternoon, July 30.

At least one person was taken to the hospital. Viewer video from the scene appears to show emergency crews providing medical aid to a patient following the crash.

Monterey police investigators remained at the scene working to determine what caused the collision, while officers directed traffic around the area.

The condition of the hospitalized person has not been confirmed.

Viewer video credit: @ talpaworks on Instagram

A new report from the environmental advocacy website Military Poisons says a former Cal State Monterey Bay student developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia after living in campus housing on the former Fort Ord.

The student is identified only by a pseudonym, and the article does not publicly provide medical records confirming the diagnosis.

However, approximately five to six months before the article was published, someone close to a CSUMB student contacted me with an account that closely matches the details now being reported, including two years in campus housing and time at Promontory.

There is currently no confirmed evidence that contamination caused the student’s illness or that the student was personally exposed inside campus housing.

The report points to documented groundwater contamination in portions of the former base and calls for additional indoor-air and vapor testing in occupied buildings.

The report can be read here: https://www.militarypoisons.org/latest-news/leukemia-case-reported-at-california-state-university-monterey-bay

According to the Del Rey Oaks Police Department, ICE agents detained one person during an operation at Monterey Regional Airport on July 17.

Police say the Department of Homeland Security notified them in advance that federal immigration agents would be at the airport. Officers working there were informed, but police say they had no contact with ICE agents and did not participate in the operation.

The department says it does not know who was detained or why the person was taken into custody. Further questions are being directed to ICE.

A large tree fell across Del Monte, completely blocking the roadway. The tree fell on Del Monte Avenue near the Naval Postgraduate School, around the 2000 block of Del Monte Avenue in Monterey. Approximately near the Starbucks and MOGO Montage Health building.

First responders say a vehicle was partly stuck beneath part of the tree, but it was safely removed and no injuries were reportedly sustained.

Authorities have blocked both directions of Del Monte while crews work to remove the tree and clear the road.

A couple visiting Monterey says their dog, Luca, escaped within minutes of being left with a sitter near York Hills on June 21.

More than 30 days later, they say they have put their lives on hold, sleeping in cars and motels while searching roads, trails, brush and open space around Laguna Seca, Pasadera and the former Fort Ord area.

The couple has distributed thousands of flyers, set up trail cameras, contacted shelters and veterinarians, and conducted overnight stakeouts.

Luca’s owners believe he may be in an extreme fear response known as “flight mode.” Anyone who sees him is asked not to chase him or call his name. Instead, take a photo or video if possible, note the exact location, time and direction of travel, and contact his owners immediately.

One accurate sighting could help bring Luca home.

Photos and videos courtesy of Megan Kao.

Capitola police have identified the woman killed in Monday’s stabbing as 73-year-old Rachell Summers of Capitola.

Police also identified the suspect as 19-year-old Tyler Leibelt of Santa Cruz. Investigators say Summers was stabbed outside the Capitola Mall near the food-court exit on Clares Street.

Video recorded in the 1400 block of 41st Avenue shows the suspect being taken into custody shortly after the attack. Capitola police confirmed to me that the person shown in the video is the suspect identified in the case.

Police say the attack appears to have been random and that there is no indication the suspect knew the victim.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information, photos or video is asked to contact Capitola police at 831-475-4242.

According to Kodi Brown, Becca Waller’s ex boyfriend, and her mother, Becca has been located and is safe.

Brown said police found her.

Thank you to everyone who shared the original post and helped spread the word across social media.

Rebecca Ann Waller, who goes by “Becca,” has been reported missing in Santa Cruz, according to a public post from her family.

Her family is asking for the public’s help locating her.

According to Kodi Brown, Becca’s boyfriend, the most recent photo shared by the family appears to show what Becca was wearing the night she disappeared. He said she has not returned home or to her car, so it is possible she may still be wearing those same clothes.

Brown described Becca as having very bright blonde hair, similar to an “Elsa” blonde color. He said she has no tattoos and may have a brown purse with her. He also said she was wearing an all-black outfit from working at a restaurant.

According to the family, Becca was last seen early Monday morning stumbling down Pacific Avenue after her work shift downtown.

The family says she may have a head injury and does not have her phone or purse. They also say her ID/driver’s license was found on the side of the road by a municipal worker, and her car is still parked downtown.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Santa Cruz Police and reference missing person case #265-03144.

This information is based on a public post from the family and information shared by Becca’s boyfriend. I’m working to confirm additional details with Santa Cruz Police.

Source: Public social media post from the family and direct phone call with Becca’s boyfriend, Kodi Brown.

A 72-year-old Ben Lomond man was killed in a crash on southbound State Route 17 in Santa Cruz County today, according to CHP Santa Cruz.

CHP says the crash happened on June 20, 2026, at about 12:01 p.m., south of Vine Hill Road.

According to CHP, the man was driving a 2025 Ford Transit van southbound on SR-17 at an unknown speed when the vehicle traveled off the roadway and crashed into a tree west of the southbound lanes.

The driver sustained major injuries and was later pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts. CHP says he was the only person in the vehicle and was wearing a seatbelt.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. CHP says it is unknown whether alcohol or drugs were factors.

Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to call CHP dispatch at 831-796-2160.

Source: CHP Santa Cruz / CHP CAD

Santa Cruz native and singer Oliver Tree is reportedly among six people killed after two helicopters collided mid-air over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, June 14th.

The Associated Press reports Rio fire officials confirmed all six people on board died after the aircraft went down in the city’s western zone. One of the helicopters reportedly crashed near a car dealership, sparking a fire among parked vehicles.

Police reportedly listed Oliver Tree among the passengers, though officials had not yet formally identified all of the victims.

Tree, born Oliver Tree Nickell, was 32 years old and was in Brazil as part of his world tour.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

According to CHP Monterey Area, officers responded Friday, June 12th, just before noon to a crash at Cooper Street and Pomber Street in Monterey County.

CHP says a 16-year-old boy from Castroville was riding a mini dirt bike westbound on Pomber Street when, for reasons still under investigation, the mini dirt bike traveled into the intersection and into the southbound lane of Cooper Street, where a Ram pickup was traveling.

CHP says the pickup hit the right side of the mini dirt bike.

The 16-year-old was taken to a local hospital with major injuries, but later died. His identity has not been released yet, pending notification of next of kin.

CHP says alcohol or drugs are not believed to be a factor at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call CHP at 831-770-8000.

Santa Cruz County officials say 1 woman is dead and another is in critical condition after an ocean rescue along the Santa Cruz County coast.

CAL FIRE CZU says crews responded yesterday near the Yellow Bank Beach, Bonny Doon Beach, and Panther Beach area.

According to Santa Cruz County Volunteer Fire Captain Kyle Breton, crews were first dispatched for one patient in the water, but the call was later upgraded to two patients.

Breton said both women were believed to have been sleeping near an area known as the keyhole, where rising tides can catch people off guard.

CAL FIRE says this was the fifth rescue in one month along a one-mile stretch of coastline from Yellow Bank Beach to Bonny Doon Beach.

Further information was not immediately available.

A second dead humpback whale has washed ashore in Monterey Bay this week.

This whale was found at Sunset State Beach, while a separate humpback whale washed up in Pacific Grove earlier this same week.

I was on scene as crews examined and dissected the whale to gather information that could help determine how it died and learn more about the animal itself.

Some close-up footage has been blurred because of the dissection and social media guidelines.

I was on scene near the Hopkins Marine Station area in Pacific Grove, where a deceased whale was seen floating near the rocks along the coastline.

People gathered along the coastal trail to watch as the whale drifted with the wind and current. While there, I spoke with people observing the whale, including a marine biologist and a scientist who were at the scene.

Some people on scene said it appeared to be a young humpback whale, though I have not independently confirmed the species or age.

People I spoke with said the whale was initially farther down near the Lover’s Point area before drifting toward Hopkins.

Pacific Grove Police said Lover’s Point Beach is temporarily closed until further notice out of an abundance of caution, because the deceased whale could attract other predators to the area.

Officials are asking people to avoid the closed area and follow posted signage while agencies continue monitoring the situation.

Cali Roots is back at the Monterey County Fairgrounds this weekend, running Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.

According to the official festival info, gates open at 11 AM, music starts around noon, and the festival runs into the night each day.

Some of the major names on this year’s lineup include Ice Cube, Rebelution, Common Kings, The Elovaters, Tash Sultana, J Boog, Pepper, SOJA, Skip Marley, Collie Buddz, The Green, and more.

I put together a quick local preview with some of the main details for anyone heading to the festival or trying to keep track of what’s happening around the Fairgrounds this weekend.

Media materials courtesy of California Roots / Good Vibez Presents. Coverage is independent and not paid promotional content.