Deputies say the 15-year-old was located late Sunday; the search now centers on a 17-year-old boy last seen in a dark SUV.
RIO LINDA, Calif. — A 15-year-old girl reported taken against her will Sunday morning in this unincorporated Sacramento County community was found safe late that night, the sheriff’s office said, while deputies continued to search for the 17-year-old suspect believed to have driven her away.
Authorities identified the teen as Citlali Itzpapalot Lerma and said she was placed in temporary custody with Sacramento County Child Protective Services after she was located late Sunday. Investigators say they are still looking for 17-year-old Jesse Carranza, who was last seen in the Rio Linda area driving a dark-colored SUV. The case moved quickly through the day, drawing an urgent response, social media alerts and neighborhood searches as deputies worked to confirm sightings, gather video and interview witnesses.
Deputies said Lerma was seen leaving against her will in a dark SUV on Sunday morning from the Rio Linda area. Through the afternoon, the sheriff’s office posted bulletins with her description and asked nearby residents for tips. Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the agency, said investigators believe the suspect “forced her into the car and drove away,” emphasizing the case was not being treated as a simple runaway. Late Sunday, the sheriff’s office announced Lerma had been found safe and transferred to CPS, while the search for Carranza entered the night. In a separate social media clip posted earlier in the day, a message attributed to Lerma said she had not left against her will; deputies said they could not verify when or where that message was recorded and were investigating whether it was made under duress.
Investigators released a description for Carranza as a 5-foot-8, 143-pound male with brown hair and brown eyes, last seen wearing a gray hoodie and blue jeans. They said the SUV could be an older-model Ford Explorer, though the exact year and plate information remained unknown late Sunday. The sheriff’s office added that Carranza has a felony warrant in an unrelated case. Gandhi said detectives were reviewing tips, canvassing the area and checking cameras in and around the streets where the SUV was reportedly spotted. Ashlie Bryant, CEO of the local nonprofit 3 Stands Global, said situations like this can overlap with exploitation, noting that victims are often coerced into doing things they do not want to do. Officials said they would release updated photos and any refined vehicle details if they became available.
As the search continued, deputies outlined why an Amber Alert was not immediately issued. They said the threshold includes specific vehicle information—such as a precise make, model, color and license plate—that they did not yet have. Without those details, an alert that pushes to phones statewide can confuse the public and dilute urgent notifications. Rio Linda, a rural-leaning area north of Sacramento known for small farms and equestrian properties, has a patchwork of private cameras and long stretches of open road, making early canvassing a mix of door-to-door checks and highway monitoring. Records show deputies fielded multiple tips on potential sightings as they tried to lock down the SUV description.
Deputies said the early focus Monday would be confirming the vehicle’s identity, rechecking areas along M Street and adjacent roads where neighbors reported activity, and working with regional partners if investigators believe the suspect left the county. No charges related to this incident had been announced as of early Monday, and the sheriff’s office did not release a timeline for when Carranza might be referred to the district attorney. Officials said they would provide updates as new information is verified, including any change to the alert status if investigators obtain a license plate or other unique identifiers. Additional interviews with family, friends and possible witnesses are planned to document the morning timeline.
Neighbors described a heavy law enforcement presence Sunday evening, with marked units cruising side streets and a handful of residents stepping onto porches to watch. “When we saw all the patrol cars slowing down past the houses, we knew something serious was going on,” said Juan Ramirez, who lives near a stretch of M Street often used as a cut-through. Bryant said cases like this highlight how quickly a missing-child report can escalate: “It is imperative to see this as a public health issue,” she said, adding that manipulation can blur what outsiders think they see in brief videos. Deputies reiterated they were evaluating that clip as part of the broader case file.
As of late Sunday night, Lerma was safe and in CPS care, deputies said. The search for Carranza continued into Monday with investigators expecting to release any significant updates once new, verified details on the suspect or vehicle emerge.
Author note: Last updated November 24, 2025.