Marine questioned after teenager missing for two weeks found on military base
A marine in California was detained and questioned after a missing 14-year-old girl was found in a barracks at Camp Pendleton.
The missing teenager was reported missing to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office on June 13 by her grandmother, who said she ran away from home four days earlier.
The girl, whose family says has a learning disability, had run away from home before but always came back.
She was finally located on June 28, when military police found her at a marine barracks at Camp Pendleton, a military base located about 40 miles north of San Diego.
Sheriff’s deputies recovered the child from the barracks the same day, and she was returned to her grandmother’s custody.
A marine was briefly taken into custody on the base after the teenager was located. He was released back to his command after questioning.
The marine has not been identified, but is part of the Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group. His age and rank have not been publicly released.
A spokesperson for the detained marine’s command said the unit ‘takes this matter and all allegations very seriously.’
Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) is currently investigating the incident. No arrests have been made yet.
An NCIS spokesperson said the organization does not comment on ongoing investigations.
It is unclear how long the 14-year-old was living on the base. Marines at Camp Pendleton are typically assigned a small room shared with another servicemember with two single beds and a small living area.
A logbook from the dormitory in Camp Pendleton was leaked by an anonymous Instagram account on July 2.
The logbook shows the teenager (who was initially reported as age 13) was found in the barracks at 9.15am on June 28. The log then shows commanding officers, as well as NCIS agents investigating the incident.
The teenager is then released into San Diego County Sheriff’s Department custody at 8.24pm that evening.
Military news outlet Task & Purpose has since confirmed that the logbook is authentic.
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