Amber Alert: 5-year-old missing after mother killed in South LA

Mother killed, police search for missing girl and father

An Amber Alert is active across Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego counties after the pair was last seen Sunday morning in Arlington Heights.

LOS ANGELES - A multi-county Amber Alert remained active Wednesday as authorities continue to search for a 5-year-old girl abducted in Los Angeles by her father, who is currently wanted in connection with the violent killing of the child's mother. 

What we know:

The investigation began on Monday around 12:40 p.m. when Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to a welfare check in the 2600 block of South Alsace Avenue in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of LA. 

At the home, officers found a woman who appeared to have suffered a violent death, police said. Her husband, 40-year-old Ruben Fregoso, was identified as a person of interest.

Amber Alert: Vehicle located, suspect & child still missing

The suspect, 44-year-old Ruben Fregoso, allegedly killed the child's mother before fleeing; his white Land Rover SUV has been found, but his location remains unknown.

Authorities say Daleyza was last seen with Fregoso around 4 a.m. Sunday near Alsace Avenue and Ferndale Street.

The California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert Monday evening on behalf of the LAPD.

Daleyza is described as 3 feet tall, weighing 45 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Fregoso is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Authorities said the pair were traveling in a white 2019 Land Rover Discovery, which was later found abandoned near the San Ysidro crossing at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Police said Fregoso previously made statements indicating he intended to flee the country.

Timeline:

• Sunday, approximately 4 a.m.: Daleza Fregoso was last seen near Alsace Avenue and Ferndale Street in Los Angeles.
• Sunday, approximately 1 p.m.: The LAPD says the death investigation call connected to the case was reported.
• Monday evening: CHP issued an Amber Alert on behalf of the LAPD for Daleza Fregoso. The CHP confirmed the white Land Rover linked to the case had been located.
• Current status: The suspect and child remain missing.

What we don't know:

Investigators have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the mother’s killing.

What you can do:

Anyone with information about Daleza Fregoso or Ruben Fregoso is urged to call 911.

Anonymous tips can be made through LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or lacrimestoppers.org.