Abandoned Toddler Found in Long Beach Parking Lot, CA
Nov 9, 2006 6:23 am US/Pacific Abandoned Child Found In Long Beach Parking Lot (CBS) LONG BEACH, Calif. A child was found in an abandoned, locked car parked behind the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach Wednesday night. The toddler -- a girl -- was discovered before 9 p.m., according to Sgt. Jeff Spigner of Long Beach Police Department's Marine Patrol Unit. According to reporters at the Aquarium, the girl was freed from the car by firefighters and put in the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Spigner said. Though it was unclear how long the young girl had been in the car, authorities said that she was in good health. When officers found her, the little girl was sleeping. Sgt. David Cannan said the car was towed as investigators looked for the girl’s parents. "We want to first know if they're okay, and then, if there are some issues that need to be addressed," he said. Anyone with information can contact the Long Beach Police Department at (562)435-6711. http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_313063213.html

Toddler abandoned in car at Long Beach aquarium Police are looking for the 2-year-old's mother, a newborn daughter and her boyfriend. The child was unharmed and is in protective custody. By Nancy Wride, Times Staff Writer November 10, 2006 A 2-year-old girl was left strapped in her safety seat in a locked car behind the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach Wednesday night, and police were searching for her mother, her mother's boyfriend and the couple's newborn daughter. "We have their car, we have their toddler, but we don't know what happened to and we don't know where their 5-day-old infant is," Long Beach Police Sgt. David Cannan said Thursday. The toddler, Angelina Garcia, dressed in what looked like a small adult T-shirt and showing no obvious signs of neglect, slept as police worked to open the lock on the door of the older-model tan Nissan, Cannan said. Her noncustodial father was located, but Angelina will remain in protective custody with the county Department of Children and Family Services for now. "We're going to hang on to her," Cannan added, "until we know exactly what occurred here." Detectives traced the Nissan to previous addresses and found relatives who helped them identify the toddler and her parents, Cannan said. Police identified Angelina's mother as Crystal Nicole Baker, who gave birth five days ago to a daughter named Destiny, and Destiny's father, Juan Diaz. Both are 20 and Long Beach residents. Baker also has a 4-year-old son, who lives with relatives, Cannan said. Detectives were trying to determine whether the couple intentionally abandoned Angelina, intended to return for her but met with trouble, or were victims of a crime. Boats searched the rocky waterfront behind the aquarium in the hours after the toddler was discovered, and the hunt resumed at daybreak. Cannan said the car showed no signs of foul play, and checks of several charter boats docked at Rainbow Harbor beside the aquarium showed that none had launched Wednesday night and the couple had not boarded one. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call (562) 435-6711. "We obviously need to find them," Cannan said. nancy.wride@latimes.com http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-toddler10nov10,1,4456507.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=1&cset=true

2-Year-Old Girl Left In Car Seat In Abandoned Car Nov. 9 - Police on Thursday searched for the mother of a 2-year-old girl who was found locked inside an abandoned car in a parking lot. The toddler was found about 9 p.m. Wednesday sleeping in a child seat in the back of a car behind the Aquarium of the Pacific. The girl was in good condition and turned over to the Department of Children's Services, said police Sgt. David Cannan. Police have reached some of the girl's relatives but have been unable to locate her 20-year-old mother, Crystal Nicole Baker, or her partner, Juan Diaz, also 20. The couple's 1-week-old girl, Destiny, is also missing. Authorities have searched areas surrounding the aquarium, including Long Beach Harbor. Baker and Diaz were last seen Wednesday afternoon. "Having all the principals missing is a concern," Cannan said. "We are trying to figure out how this occurred." http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=state&id=4746658

Nov 10, 2006 2:56 pm US/Pacific Parents Of Abandoned Child, 2, Refuse To Claim Her Angelina Was Found Sleeping In A Parking Lot By Patrol Officers (CBS) LONG BEACH, Calif. The 20-year-old parents of a girl, 2, found inside a car in a parking lot behind the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach two days ago have been confirmed alive, but have not come forward to claim their daughter, police said Friday. "We have good information that they are at least not missing," the Long Beach Police Department's Jackie Bezart said of Crystal Baker and Juan Diaz, whose newborn child is also missing. "They're alive and OK but not coming forward to claim the child." Police said the information that the couple had not met with foul play came from a reliable source, but would not elaborate. Angelina Garcia was sleeping when Marine Patrol officers noticed her in the car just before 9 Wednesday night at 200 Aquarium Way, Sgt. Jeff Spigner of the LBPD's Marine Patrol Unit said. She was freed from the car by Long Beach firefighters and placed in the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. The toddler was said to be in good health, he said. http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_313063213.html