A Corpus Christi child who had been missing for more than four years was safely recovered on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Marshals Service reported the child was recovered in Mexico and returned to her family in Corpus Christi, according to a news release sent by Deputy U.S. Marshal Erick Haag.<\/p>\n
The investigation launched after the child’s father, Neftaly Garcia, kidnapped his daughter and fled to the region of La Angostura in Chiapas, Mexico.<\/p>\n
Angela Buitrago-Paredes, mother of the child, reported her daughter missing to the Portland Police Department days later when Garcia did not return with their child as per their shared custody agreement.<\/p>\n
Stay up to date: Closing arguments begin in trial of former Uvalde officer<\/a><\/p>\n U.S. Marshals took over as the lead agency in the case at the request of the Portland Police Department and joined forces with domestic and international partners.<\/p>\n The news release said a critical moment came when Mexican officials initiated a request for a provisional arrest warrant through the Office of International Affairs, part of the U.S. Department of Justice.<\/p>\n The legal process, combined with ongoing investigative pressure and law enforcement collaboration, resulted in Garcia’s arrest in Mexico and the recovery of the child, the news release said.<\/p>\n The child was placed back into Buitrago-Paredes’ custody.<\/p>\n John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com.<\/p>\n Consider supporting local journalism with a\u00a0subscription to the Caller-Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n