Department of Justice Seeks Help in Locating Family of Child Found Wandering Streets in Mexico

CALEXICO -- The California Department of Justice is asking for help in locating the family members of a child found wandering the streets in Mexicali, Mexico.

Michael Anthony Perez Hernandez is a 5-year old Hispanic male, 3’ 6” in height, 40 pounds, with brown hair and black eyes. The child was found by a Hispanic female adult in May 2011, in the downtown area of Mexicali. The child was dropped off at Social Services in Mexicali (DIF). DIF has been trying to identify and contact the child’s parents.

On March 22, 2012, DIF, through the San Diego, Children Welfare Services asked the Foreign Prosecutions and Law Enforcement Unit (FPLEU) within the Justice Department to assist in locating the child’s family. Authorities believe the child is from the Imperial Valley/Calexico area, since he has described local landmarks. The child identified his parents as Jorge Perez and Evelyn Hernandez, grandparents as Angela and Juan, and claimed to have 4 siblings. Michael only speaks Spanish.

The child is not currently listed in the California Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

If anyone has information regarding Michael Anthony Perez Hernandez or his family members, please contact FPLEU Special Agents Guillermo Auyon and San Diego County Child Welfare Specialist Francisco Llerandi or at (858) 514-6911.

The FPLEU assists state and local law enforcement agencies in the location and prosecution of suspects who are Mexican nationals accused of committing violent crimes in California and flee to Mexico to avoid arrest and prosecution in California. Additionally, the Department of Justice is the point of contact in cases arising under the Hague Convention on the civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The Child Abduction Unit has designated the FPLEU as the law enforcement point of contact for all Hague cases. In this capacity, FPLEU is also responsible for handling all child recoveries and returns.

The child’s photo is also attached to the online version of this release at www.oag.ca.gov.