CA CA - Pearl Pinson, 15, Vallejo, 25 May 2016

[sfbaynancydrew]

Oh I know, late one night hubby & I were driving to Sea Ranch and he had to keep pulling off in Marin so I could barf.

Isn't it awful? I keep ginger pills in my car for my son who can't take the coastal roads.

So what I'm thinking is...if I'm a passenger in a car with an angry psycho driving fast along coastal roads, chances are better than not that I would have hurled in the car. So if there was no presence of it in the car then I would think he ditched her (in whatever state she was in) before going to the coast or he took the gentler paths. I doubt he would have pulled over. One thing that worries me about Jenner is Goat Rock. Us locals know how many people both born here and tourists fall and drown there every year. My first thought when I heard Jenner was that he shoved her into the sea at Goat Rock. <--total and 100% speculation.

 

[sfbaynancydrew]

Also they waited SO long to issue the Amber Alert. If it hadn't been for the quick thinking witness, she would just be another missing person, you know? Maybe he felt like he had plenty of time at that point and that no one (in his mind) was even aware she was gone. So he was executing some complicated plan that made sense only in his head. Maybe when they searched his place they found google searches about the Jenner area or printed out maps. I dunno...just thinking outloud. You'd think if they'd pinged his cellphone to Jenner, they could have pinged him elsewhere and that didn't seem to be the case....his vehicle was spotted visually by a CHP (according to press releases anyhow).

 

[rosesfromangels]

I'm in the Bay Area, but don't know Vallejo at all. Looking at an aerial map, I see a body of water I find interesting that is close to the crime scene. Can any of the locals tell me if "Swanzy Reservoir" has enough water in it to be considered a potential concealing place? On the map it looks very interesting. It appears to be quite close to the crime scene with easy access to the Hwy's. I agree she is most likely very close to where she was abducted. This was premeditated. Apparently this young girl seriously angered someone. The dead Perp's buddies will know exactly what happened, but if they are gang members....they'll never talk.

Swanzy Reservoir.

 

[carbuff]

Interesting the comments about barfing on Rt. 1. I've driven it several times without issues, and I am prone to motion sickness. Guess I've been lucky...it's such a beautiful way to travel. I won't be able to go without thinking of Pearl next time. Still praying they find her.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sfbaynancydrew]

I've never been near enough to the reservoir to make an educated guess, but the perp would have had the choice of many bodies of water if that's what he was looking for.

 

[sfbaynancydrew]

Interesting the comments about barfing on Rt. 1. I've driven it several times without issues, and I am prone to motion sickness. Guess I've been lucky...it's such a beautiful way to travel. I won't be able to go without thinking of Pearl next time. Still praying they find her.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, it's not a foregone conclusion but the area north of Bodega Bay is the worst...especially if you're not the one driving and someone is driving at a high rate of speed. It really is beautiful. I was thinking something else--his family may have interest in the area and suggested it to LE. They may fish or camp or have a cabin or something of the like that would make them think he would head to Jenner. Coupled with his weird crossing of the Richmond Bridge, maybe they felt it was worth investigating.

 

[KaaBoom]

I am thinking they knew who he was pretty quick. The first reports stated she was taken by a 19 year old and for them to know his age, I assume they knew who he was and just didn't release his name until the next day.

I am thinking it was not quick. First they did not even connect her to the incident, until she didn&#8217;t show up for school. Then the police would have had to investigate and come up with a suspect. There has to be time for investigation in there. They can&#8217;t put all the facts together instantly.

 

[cvaldez1975]

They released his name the same day, Wednesday. But it wasn't until the afternoon.

I am thinking it was not quick. First they did not even connect her to the incident, until she didn&#8217;t show up for school. Then the police would have had to investigate and come up with a suspect. There has to be time for investigation in there. They can&#8217;t put all the facts together instantly.

 

[SouthernMom]

Girl in car was not Pearl.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article80788527.html

 

[carbuff]

Girl in car was not Pearl.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article80788527.html

I don't know whether to be glad or not. On the one hand, there's still hope for Pearl. On the other hand, that means two families are grieving...

 

[KaaBoom]

They released his name the same day, Wednesday. But it wasn't until the afternoon.

Well, there you have it then. Wednesday afternoon is when they would have started looking for him.

 

[marinthinker]

This Facebook post says the FBI is working on the investigation. I missed that in other news updates.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is working with the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and the FBI to locate 15-year-old kidnapping victim Pearl Pinson, of Vallejo.​

https://www.facebook.com/santabarbarasheriff/posts/10153792676758650

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office added 5 new photos.
May 26 at 9:59pm ·

Public’s Help Sought to Locate Missing Teenage Kidnapping Victim after Suspect is Located, Pursued and Killed in Gunbattle with Sheriff’s Deputies

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is working with the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and the FBI to locate 15-year-old kidnapping victim Pearl Pinson, of Vallejo, after the suspect in her abduction was located, pursued and killed in an exchange of gunfire with Sheriff’s deputies. The victim has not been located and remains outstanding.

At approximately 3:10 p.m. today, California Highway Patrol Officers received a report of a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle from an Amber Alert wanted in the kidnapping of the 15-year-old Solano County resident. The 1997 Gold Saturn sedan was located traveling southbound on Highway 101, north of Los Alamos, in Santa Barbara County. CHP Officers went in pursuit of the vehicle and were assisted by a helicopter from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Unit. At one point in the pursuit the suspect drove the wrong way on the freeway before ultimately exiting in Buellton. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies joined in the pursuit, which went east on Highway 246 through the Cities of Buellton and Solvang and then through a residential area. The pursuit ended adjacent to a mobile home park in the 100 block of Val Verde, when the suspect crashed into a barricade at approximately 3:34 p.m. The suspect shot at pursuing deputies, one of whom returned fire.

The suspect then fled and broke into a nearby mobile home, barricading himself inside. A female resident escaped from the home and was fortunately not injured. The suspect then stole a grey Toyota Tundra truck from the residence and attempted to drive away. The suspect was confronted by deputies and an exchange of gunfire occurred. The vehicle was subsequently approached and the suspect was found dead inside, having received multiple gunshot wounds. A handgun was recovered at the scene. Coroner’s detectives are in the process of confirming the identity of the suspect and notifying the next of kin.

As is protocol in any officer-involved shooting, an investigation is underway to account for the shots that were fired and determine if the shooting was within policy.

No law enforcement officers or innocent civilians were injured during this confrontation.

The number one priority at this stage of the investigation is locating the kidnapping victim, whose photographs are attached. Pearl Pinson is a white female, 5’ 3” tall, 130 pounds with brown hair (dyed green at the time of the abduction) and green eyes. She has a metallic piercing below her left lower lip and was last seen wearing a grey sweater, black leggings and in possession of a black and turquoise backpack. Anyone with information as to her whereabouts should call 911 immediately.

For additional information see the Solano County Sheriff’s Office press release on this crime on their Facebook page at http://m.facebook.com/SolanoSheriff/

The photos of the suspect on the freeway are courtesy of Mike Eliason with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and were taken of the suspect from the Santa Rosa Road overpass.

 

[marinthinker]

The FBI is mentioned again as one of the investigative agencies in Pearl's abduction.

http://local.nixle.com/alert/5649439/

Coroner’s Office Confirms Suspect’s Identity and Search Continues for Kidnapping Victim

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office has positively identified the decedent as 19-year-old Fernando Castro of Vallejo, California. Next of kin has been notified. The Coroner’s Office is conducting an extensive death investigation.

The whereabouts of kidnapping victim, 15-year-old Pearl Pinson of Vallejo, are still unknown and finding her is the number one priority at this time. Investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Solano County Sheriff’s Office and FBI worked together throughout the night to process the crime scenes in Solvang and gather any potential evidence that may assist in finding Pearl. The agencies will continue to work closely together to share information and follow leads in the case.

At this time, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has no information to indicate that Pearl is in Santa Barbara County.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information regarding this case or the whereabouts of Pearl Pinson to call the Solano County Sheriff’s Office’s “Pearl Pinson Tip-Line” at 707-784-1963.​

 

[verbonica]

The FBI is mentioned again as one of the investigative agencies in Pearl's abduction.

<snipped for focus>

It looks like the FBI gets involved in all child kidnappings:

"Our field offices respond to cases involving the mysterious disappearance of a child whenever and however they come to our attention. All reports of circumstances indicating that a minor has or possibly has been abducted are afforded an immediate preliminary inquiry."
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/cac/non-family-abductions
and
https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/may/investigating-child-abductions

 

[Cricket99]

Prayers for her and her family. I hope she is found soon.

 

[U2forever]

Praying for Pearl and her family.
I am glad this animal is dead but I do wish LE would have kept him alive long enough to find out where he stashed Pearl.

Yeah if I was driving Vallejo to Jenner I'd take 37 to Lakeville Hwy to 116 and either take 116 to the coast or veer off on 101 to either Hwy12 or River Rd and then head to the coast. You don't drive Hwy 1 in a hurry unless you have an iron stomach or lots of barf bags. It's VERY windy and treacherous in some places. The main Hwys are much more direct. As weird as this sounds if she was still alive when they drove out to the coast, she could have thrown up in the car (I have kids and friends that I regularly have to pull over to let them barf). I know I'm harping on the winding roads but it's what I associate with driving out there!

sfbaynancydrew, Sea Bands work wonders for motion sickness and backseat sickness. They also work great for amusement park sickness. I go no where without at least one pair and they have never let me down and I have been using them for about 30 years.

http://www.sea-band.com/why-seaband/

 

[marinthinker]

It looks like the FBI gets involved in all child kidnappings:

"Our field offices respond to cases involving the mysterious disappearance of a child whenever and however they come to our attention. All reports of circumstances indicating that a minor has or possibly has been abducted are afforded an immediate preliminary inquiry."
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/cac/non-family-abductions
and
https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/may/investigating-child-abductions

The reports of the FBI investigating Pearl's abduction came from the Santa Barbara Sheriff regarding the Solvang shooting scene. I suspect they were invited to assist in the investigation by the Santa Barbara Sheriff. I've read the Solano County Sheriff's news feeds and don't detect that the FBI is assisting in their investigation in the Bay Area. Maybe they are, it just hasn't been reported.

https://twitter.com/solanosheriff

https://www.facebook.com/SolanoSheriff/

https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/sheriff/default.asp

https://local.nixle.com/solano-county-sheriff/

 

[marinthinker]

These updates are based on information from the following links:

http://www.marinscope.com/news_poin...cle_62a70b3a-242c-11e6-a340-db33bfb2e224.html

https://www.facebook.com/SolanoSheriff/


Wednesday Timeline 5/25/2016
6:45 am - Abducted on way to school bus stop.
Highway 780 overpass near
Home Acres and Taylor Avenues
Vallejo

7 am - Abduction reported by witness

Deputy Sheriff Christine Castillo told FOX40 they received a call at about 7 a.m. Wednesday from a witness who saw a male holding a gun dragging a female across a pedestrian overpass along I-780 near Taylor Avenue. That caller said the female had a bloody face and was screaming for help.

While running to get help, the witness then heard a gunshot.

When deputies arrived they say they found blood and a cell phone at the overpass, but no sign of the male or female.​

Later in morning she didn't show up at school

Police first connected Pearl Pinson to the incident on the highway overpass after she was reported missing by her school when she failed to show up Wednesday, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office says.​

5:06 pm

Solano County Sheriff IDs the abductor on Facebook
The Hispanic male has been identified as 19 year-old Fernando Castro of Vallejo. Castro was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, possibly wearing reading-type glasses.​

Later in the day -

Sheriff Thomas Ferrera said investigators on Wednesday initially were told by witnesses that the suspect fled on foot.

"It was much later in the day that we determined a car was involved," Ferrera said. "That was our delay."​

Thursday Timeline 5/26/2016
1:00 pm

Amber Alert issued about 1 pm after abductor's vehicle identified​

9:30 am

License Plate Camera Sighting on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
Although not stated in the news reports, the vehicle must have been traveling east.

Morning
Vehicle spotted on 580 near San Pablo Bay
Although not stated in the news reports, the vehicle must have been traveling east.​

3:10 pm

Abductors vehicle reported to CHP: The 1997 Gold Saturn sedan was located traveling southbound on Highway 101, north of Los Alamos, in Santa Barbara County.

Another report said
Castro was first spotted in San Luis Obispo County, where CHP officers pursued him into Santa Barbara County.
​

About 4:15 pm

Abductor killed in shootout with LE
Solvang
​

Friday Timeline 5/27/2016

3:50 pm Search for Pearl near Jenner starts
The Solano County Sheriff's Office said Friday that new information was prompting investigators to focus their search along a road that traverses Sonoma Coast State Park near the town of Jenner.

Sheriff's Deputy Christine Castillo did not say what the nature of the new information was but said it came out of the investigation into Pearl Pinson's disappearance.
​

Saturday Timeline 5/28/2016
3 pm Search for Pearl near Jenner ends

Authorities ended the search about 3 p.m. Saturday. They continued to decline to say what led them to this particular spot of Sonoma County in search of Pinson.
​

Wednesday Timeline 5/25/2016
6:45 am - Abducted on way to school bus stop.
Highway 780 overpass near
Home Acres and Taylor Avenues
Vallejo

7 am - Abduction reported by witness

Deputy Sheriff Christine Castillo told FOX40 they received a call at about 7 a.m. Wednesday from a witness who saw a male holding a gun dragging a female across a pedestrian overpass along I-780 near Taylor Avenue. That caller said the female had a bloody face and was screaming for help.

While running to get help, the witness then heard a gunshot.

When deputies arrived they say they found blood and a cell phone at the overpass, but no sign of the male or female.​

Later in morning she didn't show up at school

Police first connected Pearl Pinson to the incident on the highway overpass after she was reported missing by her school when she failed to show up Wednesday, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office says.
​

Thursday Timeline 5/26/2016
1:00 pm
Amber Alert issued about 1 pm after abductor's vehicle identified

9:30 am
License Plate Camera Sighting on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
Although not stated in the news reports, the vehicle must have been traveling east.

Morning
Vehicle spotted on 580 near San Pablo Bay
Although not stated in the news reports, the vehicle must have been traveling east.​

3:10 pm

Abductors vehicle reported to CHP: The 1997 Gold Saturn sedan was located traveling southbound on Highway 101, north of Los Alamos, in Santa Barbara County.

Another report said
Castro was first spotted in San Luis Obispo County, where CHP officers pursued him into Santa Barbara County.​

About 4:15 pm

Abductor killed in shootout with LE
Solvang​

Friday Timeline 5/27/2016
3:50 pm Search for Pearl near Jenner starts

The Solano County Sheriff's Office said Friday that new information was prompting investigators to focus their search along a road that traverses Sonoma Coast State Park near the town of Jenner.

Sheriff's Deputy Christine Castillo did not say what the nature of the new information was but said it came out of the investigation into Pearl Pinson's disappearance.​

Saturday Timeline 5/28/2016
3 pm Search for Pearl near Jenner ends

Authorities ended the search about 3 p.m. Saturday. They continued to decline to say what led them to this particular spot of Sonoma County in search of Pinson.​

 

[J4cknsal1y]

From link:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=767244133412985&id=348438128626923

We continue to investigate the abduction of 15-year old Pearl Pinson and we remain hopeful we will bring her home safe.


Information found on the suspect’s cell phone and during a search of his car, led investigators to believe Pearl may be in the Jenner, CA area. With assistance from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office an extensive search of the area was done with no sign of Pearl found.


The Solano County Office of Emergency Services Search and Rescue Team has also conducted a search of the Glen Cove coastline in Vallejo, an open field and stream search of the area around the abduction site, and of the highway 37 from Vallejo to Sonoma County including the Skaggs Island area.


We continue to search for witnesses and information to help establish the suspect’s timeline and where he may have traveled to determine where Pearl is. We are asking our bay area business community to check their surveillance cameras from 7:00am on 5/25/16 to 9:15am 5/26/16 for any sign of the suspect’s car. We also are asking anyone who may find a backpack abandoned like the one pictured to call us.
...

*ETA: interesting comment following linked Solano County Sheriff's FB post

 

[Niner]

Just caught up - heard about this when it first happened!

marinthinker - :tyou: for the timeline! Are you in Marin City or Marin County? I used to live in Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Novato up that way! Now in Gold Country!

So, no new updates on what is happening today in searching for Pearl? TIA!

:rose: Where are you Pearl?! :rose: