Car found amid search for father, daughter linked to newborn found dead in Monterey Co. incest case

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. -- Authorities located a car connected to an Amber Alert issued for a man wanted out of Monterey County whom law enforcement suspects is on the run with his daughter, the Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.

The Amber Alert was issued Sunday for a 14-year-old girl and her father, Sergio Galvez Perez, and a vehicle they were believed to be in was also posted.

The Sheriff's Office believes that Galvez Perez committed incest against his teen daughter and that she abandoned an infant who was fathered by him shortly after giving birth a little over a month ago. Authorities have named the deceased infant "Baby Angelita."

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With assistance from the community, the white Nissan Altima with no license plates was located in Monterey County, the Sheriff's Office said. The vehicle is no longer being sought in connection with the Amber Alert but the man nor his daughter have been located.

The girl's mother was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment before posting bail, but authorities have been unable to locate the whereabouts of the teen and her father.

The case garnered a lot of attention after Sheriff Tina Nieto initially announced that there was probable cause to arrest the teen for murder. The Sheriff's Office also initially said the case did not meet the right criteria for an Amber Alert to be issued.

Pushback from Supervisor Wendy Root Askew and the community lead the District Attorney's Office to release a statement that it hadn't charged the girl with anything. Prosecutors have however filed charges against Galvez Perez "for the heinous crime of sexually assaulting his own child."

"People are angry because something feels fundamentally wrong here," said Supervisor Wendy Root Askew in a statement Thursday. "A child who becomes pregnant due to sexual abuse by an adult, who gives birth without medical care, and who is being concealed by the man suspected of sexually abusing her is a victim."

For an Amber Alert to be issued by the California Highway Patrol, law enforcement must confirm that an abduction of a minor has occurred, there is information available that could assist with finding the victim, and that there is reason to believe that the minor is in imminent danger of serious injury or death.

The Sheriff's Office isn't releasing specific information about the case or why an Amber Alert became warranted, in an effort to protect the investigation.

The Sheriff's Office said it has received hundreds of calls, emails and messages related to case since the Amber Alert was first issued last week.

RELATED: Body of infant, human remains found separately in Monterey Co. on same day, sheriff says

The Sheriff's Office is urging members of the public to look at the photos released of Galvez Perez, including some pictures of him when he was performing in a musical group.

The public should call 911 if they see Galvez Perez or his 14-year-old daughter.

Information on their whereabouts can also be shared to Detective Richard Geng at 831-759-7279 or Sgt. Nicholas Kennedy at 831-755-3773. Those who share information may remain anonymous.