A 16-year-old girl who had been missing for two weeks was found Wednesday in the bedroom of her former swim coach, a 31-year-old San Bernardino man, the police said.
During the search for the girl, who had left her home in Apple Valley on July 22, police investigators learned she had been communicating with the man, John Casillas, said a report from the Apple Valley police.
On Wednesday, they served a search warrant at his home and found the victim hiding there. The house is a 40-minute drive on Interstate 15 from the girl’s home.
The police announcement of her discovery said she was “safe … and in the process of being reunited with her parents.”
Casillas was arrested at a country club, one of several places where he teaches swimming. His father was also detained; detectives said the older man lived in the house but failed to alert law enforcement of the girl’s presence.
John Casillas faces charges of concealment of a child from legal guardian or parent. He posted bail Thursday and was released from custody.
Casillas’ father has not been charged; the case against him will be sent to the district attorney’s office for review, the police said.
A GoFundMe page soliciting money for the search said the girl has been a competitive swimmer since the age of 6, most recently with a club team in Victorville, and is being recruited by universities. It said she is a high school senior with a 4.8 grade point average.
Should we tell our neighbor what her caretaker does when she’s gone?
