15-year-old Rubi Cruz-Mendoza missing/Rubi is w/a 29 yo suspect, Hilario Matus-Carmona, Who is Her Godfather!/LE unclear if this is an abduction or she went willingly. Update:10/23/12-Rubi has been found safe and Hilario Matus-Carmona has been arrested.

By MARY CALLAHAN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 8:17 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 8:17 a.m.
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Police detectives trying to track down a missing 15-year-old Petaluma girl are treating the case as a possible abduction, though it remained unclear Thursday if she went voluntarily with the 29-year-old suspect when the pair disappeared Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

The girl's mother had confronted her only a short time earlier after learning the teen might be involved in a sexual relationship with the suspect, her godfather, Hilario Matus-Carmona, police said.

But the girl, 15-year-old Petaluma girl goes missing, apparently arranged to rendezvous with him anyway, asking a friend to drive her to the Adobe Creek Shopping Center on Lakeville Highway on Wednesday afternoon, ostensibly to meet up with her mother, police said.

When the boy and his mother took her there, they saw she instead was meeting Matus-Carmona and persuaded her to get back in the car and go home, authorities said.

But once back at her apartment, she became upset and wanted to go for a walk before going inside, authorities said.

The boy accompanied her, trying to calm her down. But as they walked, a vehicle approached at Park Lane and McGregor Avenue around 5:20 p.m., authorities said.

Matus-Carmona was in the front passenger seat of the tannish-gray, two-door compact car driven by an unidentified Latino man estimated to be about 20 years old.

When Matus-Carmona tried to talk to the girl, her friend intervened, prompting the suspect to grab the friend and push him to the ground, police said.

The girl then got in the car and left.

Matus-Carmona, his wife and their child had lived for a time with Cruz-Mendoza and her family at the Greenbriar apartments on Maria Drive, though he and his family moved to another Petaluma apartment complex in September, police said.

But Matus-Carmona and the girl remained in contact via text, phone and Facebook, in addition to meeting in person, police said.

Authorities have been trying to track them via cell phone, but both appear to have turned them off, Lt. Tim Lyons said.

Be-on-the-lookout bulletins also have been sent to law enforcement agencies around California, as well as to states bordering Mexico. Several missing children's organizations also have been put on alert, police said.

Authorities also were trying to locate a place called Walnut Ranch in Sonoma or Napa County, where Matus-Carmona claimed he was a field worker.

Matus-Carmona was described as about 5-foot-7-inches tall and 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about the pair's whereabouts is asked to call Petaluma Police at (707) 778-4372.

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Posted: 6:46 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012

Police still searching for man suspected of abducting 15-year-old goddaughter

Bay City News

PETALUMA, Calif. — Petaluma police released more details Thursday about the suspected abduction of a 15-year-old Petaluma girl by her godfather Wednesday afternoon.

Hilario Matus-Carmona, 29, of Petaluma, is suspected of abducting Rubi Cruz-Mendoza at Park Lane and McGregor Avenue in Petaluma around 5:30 p.m., Lt. Tim Lyons said.

Lyons said the girl's family suspected the two were having a sexual relationship and they confronted Cruz-Mendoza, who had been in contact with Matus-Carmona through Facebook, texting, phone calls and personal contact.

On Wednesday, Cruz-Mendoza asked a juvenile friend to give her a ride to meet her mother at the Adobe Creek Center on Lakeville Highway, Lyons said.

The juvenile and his mother drove Cruz-Mendoza to the shopping center where the girl was seen contacting Matus-Carmona, Lyons said.

The juvenile and his mother told Cruz-Mendoza not to go with Matus-Carmona, and she got back in the car and was driven back to her home, according to Lyons.

Before going inside her home, Cruz-Mendoza became upset and went for a walk with her juvenile friend who tried to calm her down, Lyons said.

A vehicle with Matus-Carmona in the passenger seat approached Cruz-Mendoza and her juvenile friend at Park Lane and McGregor Avenue, Lyons said.

Matus-Carmona tried to speak to Cruz-Mendoza but the juvenile intervened, Lyons said. Matus-Carmona then pushed the juvenile friend to the ground and Cruz-Mendoza got into the car, which then drove away.

The car is described as a 2-door, tan-gray compact and the driver is believed to be a 20-year-old Hispanic man, according to Lyons.

"We are unable to determine if the victim voluntarily went with the suspect," Lyons said.

Investigators are trying to track the girl and Matus-Carmona from their cellphones, but the phones apparently have been turned off, Lyons said.

He said Matus-Carmona claimed he was employed as a field worker at a location called Walnut Ranch in either Sonoma County or Napa County, but investigators have been unable to find that location.

Petaluma police have sent out a flyer statewide and to states bordering Mexico, Lyons said.

Several other law enforcement and missing persons organizations also have been notified of the incident and are assisting, he said.

The girl's family and Matus-Carmona's family lived in the Greenbriar Apartments at 200 Greenbriar Circle in Petaluma in September, but Matus-Carmona recently moved to the Enclave at Adobe Creek, 1 Lakeville Circle in Petaluma, Lyons said.

Cruz-Mendoza is a student at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma. She is 5 feet 7 inches, 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, police said.

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WTH?? The Heading says she is his Goddaughter but does not state that anywhere else. It's evident she got in the car voluntarily. I sure feel badly for her friend. Some way to treat your friend. OMG!! And, if the parents KNEW they were communicating by text and emails and having sex they should have put a stop to it completely instead of simply questioning her!!!

Police call missing juvenile 'possible abduction'

By Janelle Wetzstein
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF
Published: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 11:47 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.

Investigators searching for the missing 15-year-old girl who disappeared with a 29-year-old man she may have been romantically involved with, said Thursday morning that the suspect is the girl's godfather.

The teen, Rubi Cruz-Mendoza, of Petaluma, was last seen Wednesday evening at approximately 5:20 p.m., getting into a vehicle with the suspect, Hilario Matus-Carmona, also of Petaluma, who family members say had been carrying on a sexual relationship via Facebook, texting, phone calls and actual contact. Family members also told police that Matus-Carmona is the teenager's godfather. They knew and they did not stop her!!!

According to police, the victim was walking with a male juvenile friend at the intersection of Park Lane and McGregor Avenue, when Matus-Carmona approached them in vehicle driven by an unknown subject. Matus-Carmona also had contact with Cruz-Mendoza earlier in the day at the Adobe Creek Shopping Center on Lakeville Highway.

When Cruz-Mendoza's male friend tried to stop the suspect from approaching her, the suspect grabbed him and pushed him to the ground. Cruz-Mendoza then got into the suspect's vehicle and left.

Police said that they have been unable to determine whether the victim went voluntarily with the suspect at this time. Investigators have been trying to track the victim and suspect through their cell phones, but say that both appear to have been turned off at this point.

The department is circulating a flyer statewide, and to several states bordering Mexico. The driver was described as a 20-year-old Hispanic male, driving a vehicle described as a 2-door compact, tannish-gray automobile. Matus-Carmona, the suspect, is described as being approximately 5-7, 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Petaluma Police Department at 778-4372.

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Parents plead for return of missing Petaluma girl

Beth Schlanker / PD
By DEREK MOORE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 7:26 p.m.

The parents of a missing 15-year-old Petaluma girl pleaded Sunday for her safe return after she was last seen Wednesday getting into a car with her godfather and another man.

“Rubi is a good daughter and student. She is very responsible and we want to help her overcome her difficulties,” family friend Joyce Galindo said in a statement she read Sunday outside the Petaluma Police Department.

Rubi Cruz-Mendoza is a freshman at Casa Grande High School. On Sunday, her parents, Justino Cruz-Zarate and Reina Mendoza-Reyes, stood silently during the press conference with expressions of fatigue and sadness on their faces.

Petaluma police said the teen may have gone willingly with Hilario Matus-Carmona, 29, who was described as the teen's godfather.

The girl was last seen at about 5:20 p.m. Wednesday getting into a tannish-gray, two-door compact car at Park Lane and McGregor Avenue.

Matus-Carmona was in the front passenger seat of the car driven by an unidentified Latino man estimated to be about 20 years old.

Matus-Carmon has a wife and 2-year-old son who live in Petaluma. They also have not heard from him since Wednesday, Lt. Tim Lyons said.

Cruz-Mendoza's mother confronted her after she found out that the teen might be involved in a sexual relationship with her godfather.

Matus-Carmona and his family had lived for a time with Cruz-Mendoza and her family at the Greenbriar apartments on Maria Drive, though he and his family moved to another Petaluma apartment complex in September.

Lyons said Matus-Carmona has no criminal record and most recently was employed as a field worker in the Napa Valley.

He said detectives who have worked round-the-clock to try and locate the pair are concentrating their efforts in southern Central Valley along the Highway 99 and I-5 corridors.

Anyone with information about the pair's whereabouts is asked to call Petaluma Police at 778-4372.

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Missing Petaluma teen found in Fresno County

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- The family of a missing teenage girl from Petaluma is relieved to learn the girl has been found safe.

Fifteen-year-old Rubi Cruz-Mendoza was last seen getting in to a car with 29-year old Hilario Matus-Carmona and another man last Thursday.

Yesterday afternoon, police in Fresno County received a tip she was in a home in Selma, south of Fresno. Police went to the house, identified Rubi and arrested Matus-Carmona.

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Tip leads to missing Petaluma girl, godfather's arrest

By RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 7:43 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 2:58 p.m.

A missing 15-year-old Petaluma girl has been reunited with her family and the man she disappeared with is in custody, Petaluma police said Tuesday.

A tip to a Fresno television station Monday helped police find Rubi Cruz-Mendoza that evening in Selma, a Central Valley town south of Fresno, Petaluma police Lt. Tim Lyons said.

“Her family is ecstatic she’s back,” said Lyons.

The girl and suspect Hilario Matus-Carmona, 29, of Petaluma were found at a Selma residence, where they apparently were attempting to rent a room, said Lyons.

They had disappeared from Petaluma last Wednesday evening. Witnesses reported the girl left in a car with Matus-Carmona and another man.

Her worried family filed a missing persons report, launching a police search. On Sunday her family made a public plea for help in finding the girl, whom they said is a freshman at Casa Grande High School.

Officers arrested Matus-Carmona on suspicion of child abuse and taking or concealing a child, said Lyons.

The child abuse allegation involves him shoving a male friend of the girl’s to the ground just before the girl got into a car with Matus-Carmona and left town, said Lyons.

Matus-Carmona was brought back to Sonoma County and held in the county jail Tuesday in lieu of $250,000 bail. He also was being investigated on an immigration issue.

It remained unclear Tuesday if the girl went willingly in the car. The status of the relationship between the two also remained under investigation and detectives still need to interview her to determine if further charges should be sought against the man, Lyons said.

A tipster called a Fresno television at 4:15 p.m. Monday to report the possible location of the pair. Station employees contacted Petaluma police, who contacted Selma police, and officers immediately were sent to the house, said Lyons.

Petaluma detectives already were looking in the Central Valley region for the two and also responded to the house.

Matus-Carmona is the girl’s godfather. He is married and has a young child, said police. The two families at one time shared a Petaluma apartment.

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* RUBI CRUZ MENDOZA MISSING GIRL FOUND SAFE NEAR FRESNO

Published by Junior Staff Writer on October 23, 2012

A 15-year-old Petaluma girl who went missing last week was found near Fresno on Monday, police said today. Rubi Cruz-Mendoza, a student at Casa Grande High School, had last been seen around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday getting into a car with her godfather, 29-year-old Hilario Matus-Carmona, at Park Lane and McGregor Avenue in Petaluma. Police launched a search for Cruz-Mendoza and said they considered the case a possible abduction.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Univision television station in Fresno contacted Petaluma police after receiving a tip that Cruz-Mendoza was at a home in the city of Selma, police said. Petaluma police contacted authorities in Selma, who went to the home and found both Cruz-Mendoza and Matus-Carmona. Petaluma investigators were in the area and also responded to the home, police said. Matus-Carmona was taken into custody.

Police said they plan to release more details about the case later today. At the time of the possible abduction, Cruz-Mendoza was with a friend who tried to prevent her godfather from speaking with her, but Matus-Carmona allegedly shoved the younger man to the ground before leaving with her in a two-door compact car driven by a second man, police said. Cruz-Mendoza’s disappearance came after her family confronted her about a suspected sexual relationship with Matus Carmona, according to police.

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I am so glad she was found! I don't know what kind of happy end to this story there is but at least she's not dead. One of the lucky ones.

By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 3:56 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 8:01 a.m.

A Petaluma man accused of running away with his 15-year-old goddaughter was charged Wednesday with carrying on a more than yearlong sexual affair with the girl.

Hilario Matus-Carmona, 29, was arrested Monday in the Central Valley town of Selma after a tip to a Spanish-language TV station. Police found him with the teen, who disappeared from Petaluma on Oct. 17.

The girl was previously identified in news stories when she was missing and the subject of a search by Petaluma police. The Press Democrat, which has a policy of not naming alleged victims of sex crimes, is now withholding her name. (Too little, to late. We already know her name.)

Prosecutors charged Matus-Carmona with two felony counts of having sexual intercourse with a child under 16. One count covered a period from July 12, 2011, to Oct. 16, while he was believed to be living with the girl's family. Why was he living w/the family? Were the parents wearing blinders??

The other spanned the six days Matus-Carmona is alleged to have driven off with the teen. He also is charged with a third misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor with a special allegation of committing lewd and lascivious acts.

He faces a maximum of six years in prison if convicted. NOT Enough!!

Prosecutors didn't file abduction charges, suggesting the girl was not forced to leave the county with him. Police said they were attempting to rent a room at a house when Matus-Carmona was arrested.

Matus-Carmona remained in custody on a federal immigration hold and an additional $250,000 bail. He appeared in court in a blue jail uniform and received a court-appointed attorney.

He was ordered to return Nov. 13 to enter his plea.

Matus-Carmona is married and has a son. Police said the two families lived together for a period of time.

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