Armando Cruz, 24, was arrested and charged in Inglewood for his alleged involvement with Patricia Alatorre’s disappearance who resided in Bakersfield.
What We Know:
- The 13-year-old girl, Patricia (Patty) Alatorre was reported missing to the Bakersfield police department on July 1st and the department has not released whether Patty’s remains were found.
- Patty’s picture was posted on Twitter by an independent organization that raises awareness of missing people. Cruz was arrested due to matching the same white older model pick-up truck from the picture that was seen in the area.
13-year-old Patricia "Patty" Alatorre was last seen in the 2900 b/o Crescent Ridge Street near Hosking Avenue & Wible Road in Bakersfield, California on July 1st @ 11:30PM; police have released a picture of a white older-model pick-up truck that was seen in the area at the time pic.twitter.com/aYHrdIn7JT
— Missing Persons Planet (@Home4theMissing) July 5, 2020
- According to the Kern County Jail website, Armando Cruz is being held with no bail after entering a not-guilty plea to 12 felony charges including 1st-degree murder. He has currently been booked into Kern County Jail and charged with murder and sexual assault of a juvenile.
- Many Twitter users have expressed their sadness and urged girls under 18 to carry tasers and mace to better protect themselves from being preyed on.
https://twitter.com/miss_txry/status/1280230620342317056?s=20
- Greenfield Union School District has issued a response regarding her sudden tragic death. Patricia Alatorre attended McKee Middle School within the school district. Some of the comments were as follows:
“Petite in size but carried a big presence.”- Lakisha Thomas, 6th grade teacher.
“Patrcia Alatorre was the light on my day. Sassy, social and smart.” – Jacquelyn Johnson, Science Teacher.
- Investigators at first believed Patty was a runaway. However, police later found a surveillance video showing a white truck where they believe Alatorre got in the truck.
- Bakersfield police department has not released the whereabouts of Patricia Alatorre and it is unclear whether she is alive. Unfortunately, homicide detectives believe there is little to no hope that she is alive.
- A spokesman for Bakersfield Police, Robert Pair said the following: “Any investigation involving a child as a victim and particularly when there is a death involved, it is especially horrific not just as police officers, but also as people that have families”.
If anyone has any further information on the disappearance of Patricia it is urged to contact Detective Ursey at (661) 326- 3871.
