Carson Teen Found, Investigation Continues

Missing Carson teen Alinka Castenada has been found and returned to her family. At an April 19 press conference, family advocate Moses Castillo described the events leading to the teen’s return. 

Castillo explained that he and the family were restricted in what they could say about the case given that the investigation is still ongoing. 

Castillo said on Monday morning, a phone call was made to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Pacific Division. Uniformed patrol officers responded to a location somewhere in the Venice Beach area.

Alinka’s mother, Maricela Avila, explained, with Castillo translating on her behalf:

Monday morning, I received a phone call from somebody. At first, I thought it was another false alarm. But this one felt different. The caller provided a location at Venice Beach and told Maricela Avila to go there. By the time she made it to that location, Alinka was already with the police. Avila had called Castillo on the way to getting to her daughter. When she arrived, she saw Alinka sitting on a bench talking to the police. 

She cries a lot. She’s very emotional. She has a lot of anxiety. She’s very scared and frightened. Last night, we actually slept together holding each other. And as far as what she told me, you know, I didn’t want to know about where she was. A psychologist told them not to pressure Alinka until she was ready to talk. 

Castillo believes his appearance on News Nation on April 16 is what led to the communications that resulted in the teen’s return home.  

Curiously, there were no representatives from the Carson Sheriff’s station (despite the news conference being held in front of the Carson Sheriff’s Station) and no representative from the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division, which ultimately found Castaneda in Venice.

The Carson Sheriff’s media relations department confirmed that the investigation is ongoing but said the case is being treated as either a runaway or a runaway who after was held against her will.

“I can tell you what happened on Sunday night, Sunday night, I appeared on a nationwide news channel, and I had a direct message to the individual holding Alinka. After that direct message, Monday comes and here we are,” Castillo said. 

“I said to that adult male, ‘We know who you are but we’re not going to release your name just yet. Allow her to go to a local hospital.’” Castillo recounted.

That Alinka was found in the very area the family concentrated their search efforts was no surprise to Castillo.

“It seemed as if the other places mentioned by the person holding Alinka captive were just plugs to throw investigators off,” Castillo said. 

Representatives from the Carson Sheriff’s Department said the April 19 press conference was premature.