Formerly missing Albertville 13-year-old found under blanket in vehicle during Arizona traffic stop – WHNT.com
Missing Albertville Teen Found in Arizona After Traffic Stop
A routine traffic stop in Arizona led to the discovery of 13-year-old Dayetssi Carrasquillo Pizarro, who had been missing from Albertville, Alabama, since April 19. On April 30, a detective from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle on eastbound I-40 near North Sun Valley Road for a civil traffic violation. During the stop, the detective noticed a person attempting to hide under a blanket in the front passenger seat. The driver, 32-year-old Raul Alexis Arellano-Romero from New Mexico, claimed the passenger was a 19-year-old friend he had recently met in Las Vegas and was taking her back to New Mexico. However, inconsistencies in his statements and signs of nervous behavior raised suspicion. The passenger provided a false identity and age, and appeared to have fake tattoos, possibly used to conceal her true identity. After further questioning, she revealed her true name and date of birth, confirming she was the missing 13-year-old from Alabama. Authorities in Alabama confirmed her disappearance on April 19. Further investigation revealed that Arellano-Romero had been arrested in Massachusetts in 2024 for unlawfully removing the same juvenile from her guardian’s custody. He was released on bond later that year. Authorities believe he traveled from New Mexico to Alabama and took the juvenile again without lawful custody or consent. Arellano-Romero was arrested and booked into the Navajo County Jail on an outstanding nationwide extraditable warrant with a $100,000 bond. He is currently awaiting extradition to Alabama. Detectives from the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office are working with detectives from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office to determine whether additional charges will be filed in Arizona once the investigation is complete. Navajo County Sheriff David Clouse emphasized the importance of proactive policing in protecting vulnerable individuals. (waff.com)
Read the complete article here: https://whnt.com/news/northeast-alabama/missing-albertville-13-year-old-found-in-vehicle-during-traffic-stop-in-arizona/