Behind the Badge
La Habra police detectives once again are asking the public’s help in locating a 4-year-old girl who went missing in late July after her father said he was taking her to the beach, according to police reports.
In the latest twist, police learned the father of the girl, Felipe Alexander Delgado, reached the girl’s mother, Natalia Zurita Rodriguez, via phone and told her that the girl would not be returned. He would not allow her to speak to her daughter, Isabella, at that time, police say.
Rodriguez told officers previously that she was estranged from the girl’s father and that they had shared custody of their daughter through a verbal agreement.
On July 26, Delgado picked up his daughter, but the next day, he could not be reached despite several messages left for him. She was told by one of Delgado’s family members that the father and daughter had gone to the beach.
On July 28, she contacted La Habra police to report her daughter missing.
Officers contacted Delgado’s mother at her home on S. Hillcrest Street, which was the last known location of the father and daughter. His mother confirmed she had not seen her son or his daughter since they left for the beach.
Delgado was last seen wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans, and white shoes and Isabella was wearing a bathing suit. They were last seen walking north on Hillcrest towards La Habra Boulevard and she Delgado’s mother believes they were going to Huntington Beach.
Delgado’s mother also filed a missing report on her son, Felipe.
Information on the two missing persons was immediately distributed to surrounding law enforcement agencies, as well as contact made with OCTD, since Delgado left home on foot. The girl’s mother expressed concern that the father may be headed to Mexico with Isabella, so this information was also shared with Border Patrol. Fliers were also made available for public distribution.
La Habra detectives have been pursuing all active leads, but have not been able to locate either of the missing parties.
Anyone who may have seen Isabella or her father is urged to contact the La Habra Police Department at (562) 383-4300, the department’s anonymous tip line at (562) 383-4358, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIPS-OCCS.
