Police looking for missing 8-year-old girl from Merced. Here’s what we know
Related story: Body of child found in Merced residence during search for missing girl, police say
Merced police are looking for a missing 8-year-old girl who was last seen in the area about a month ago.
Merced police were notified Sophia Mason was missing by officers from the Hayward Police Department.
Both agencies are conducting an investigation to find the child. “She has family in Hayward, and they are the ones who originally reported her missing,” said Merced police Detective Sgt. Kalvin Haygood.
Mason was last seen on Feb. 10 in the Merced area.. “The Hayward Police Department was able to take the mother of the child into custody, and the child was not with her,” Haygood said.
According to Det. Haygood, the mother is still in the custody of Hayward police. It’s not clear if the girl is with another family member or if the mother is trying to keep the girl from being taken by police.
“She might be trying to conceal the child from law enforcement to prevent the child from being taken into custody by child protective services,” Haygood said.
Haygood added that child and her mother live in Merced with the mother’s boyfriend. Police also contacted the boyfriend, who also didn’t know where the girl is.
Mason and her mother are known to frequent Hayward and cities in Southern California.
Anyone with information about the missing girl can call Detective John Pinnegar at 209-388-7712 or write to pinnegarj@cityofmerced.org.
Tips are confidential and you can remain anonymous.
