Investigators Reveal Newborn 'Baby Angelita' Was Likely Run Over by Teen Mother in Moss Landing

Key points

• Detective Richard Geng stated that a large blood stain and tire impressions in soil near a strawberry field indicate the infant was moved under a vehicle after birth.
• Jane Doe’s online search history included queries about hiding a pregnancy and disabling her iPhone location tracker hours after the incident on August 1.
• Sergio Galvez Perez was located and arrested in Chihuahua, Mexico, where his daughter was also found safe; the FBI is coordinating extradition efforts.
• The girl’s mother has been arrested on child endangerment charges, but no formal charges have been filed against the 14-year-old suspect due to extradition limitations.

Background

This case emerged in early August 2026 when a newborn was found dead on a remote road in Monterey County. Initial reports in September identified the father, Sergio Galvez Perez, as a suspect in the infant's death, but later investigations shifted focus to the 14-year-old mother. An Amber Alert was issued in September for the pair, who fled in a white Nissan Altima. The current update provides the first detailed forensic explanation for the cause of death and the status of the suspects in Mexico.

How outlets are covering it

ABC7 and KSBW both report that the 14-year-old mother is believed to have run over the infant, but KSBW provides additional forensic details, such as the specific tire impressions and the teen's online search history. Both outlets agree that the father, Sergio Galvez Perez, was not involved in the infant's death, though he is charged with incest. KSBW notes that the Department of Justice informed prosecutors that Mexico will not extradite the minor, a detail not emphasized in the ABC7 report. Sheriff Tina Nieto, quoted by KSBW, emphasized the need to focus on justice for both the abused teen and the deceased infant, whereas ABC7 focused primarily on the mechanical cause of death.

Why it matters

The case highlights the complex legal and ethical challenges in prosecuting minors involved in severe abuse cases. It underscores the difficulties of international extradition for juveniles and the emotional toll on local law enforcement, who described the case as one of the most difficult they have handled. The revelation of the cause of death provides closure to the immediate mystery of the infant's death while leaving the legal proceedings for the teen mother unresolved due to jurisdictional barriers.

What to watch

The FBI is working with Mexican authorities to extradite Sergio Galvez Perez to Monterey County to face charges. Prosecutors are monitoring the situation regarding the 14-year-old, Jane Doe, but no immediate action is expected due to the lack of extradition mechanisms for minors. The case will likely proceed through the courts once the father is returned to the United States, while the teen remains in Mexico.