Newly surfaced surveillance photos appear to show a Southern California man, wanted in connection with a woman’s violent death and her daughter’s abduction, crossing toward Mexico with the missing young girl at the center of an Amber Alert.
The images allegedly capture 40-year-old Ruben Fregoso alongside 5-year-old Daleyza Fregoso in San Diego on Sunday shortly after 7:30 a.m., just before investigators believe they may have entered Mexico.
The alarming development came one day before Los Angeles police discovered the body of a woman inside a South Los Angeles home during a welfare check.
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the 2600 block of South Alsace Avenue around 12:30 p.m. on Monday after concerns were raised.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered an adult female deceased inside the residence,” police said.
“Preliminary investigation indicates the victim died as a result of violence.”
Hours later, the California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert for Daleyza Fregoso, initially identified by authorities as “Daleza” before officials corrected the spelling of her first name.
Police have not publicly confirmed the relationship between Ruben and Daleyza, despite the pair sharing the same last name.
Investigators said Fregoso allegedly made statements suggesting he planned to flee the country.
The white Land Rover believed to have been used in the case was later recovered in San Ysidro, a San Diego bordertown, but neither Ruben Fregoso nor the missing child has been found.
Daleyza was last seen near Alsace Avenue and Ferndale Street in Los Angeles’ West Adams neighborhood.
Video from the scene showed investigators removing a body from the residence on a stretcher while a medical examiner’s vehicle remained parked outside the home.
Ruben Fregoso is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and about 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Daleyza is described as approximately 3 feet tall, weighing around 45 pounds, also with black hair and brown eyes.
Authorities have not released additional updates in the investigation.
