Sheriff’s office believes teen ran over ‘Baby Angelita’ after birth in Moss Landing
By Felix Cortez
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SALINAS, California (KSBW) — Authorities in Monterey County revealed new details Thursday about the death of a newborn found near a Moss Landing strawberry field, allegedly involving a 14-year-old mother and her father.
“People judge a little too quickly sometimes without knowing the facts,” said Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto during the press conference.
Detectives said the 14-year-old, referred to as Jane Doe, gave birth in the area and then ran over the newborn, identified by investigators as Baby Angelita.
“Deputies responded to the 100 block of Struven Road and found an infant with what appeared to be extensive crush-type trauma and tire impressions in blood-soaked soil curved towards and across the infant, which was lying on the dirt shoulder adjacent to an ag field,” said Deputy Richard Geng.
Investigators also examined Jane Doe’s online search history, which revealed searches related to hiding or terminating a pregnancy both months before and hours after the incident.
“’What happens if the cops find a newborn baby from a minor?’ This was timestamped the day of the incident, August 1, 2026, at 12:07 hours. So, about four hours after the incident. A search term shortly after that said how to turn off your iPhone location,” Geng said.
DNA evidence confirmed that Baby Angelita was fathered by Jane Doe’s father.
Investigators said there is no evidence indicating the father encouraged or was involved in the newborn’s death.
However, they said the father removed his daughter from a local hospital before she could be discharged.
Soon after, the father and daughter fled to Chihuahua, Mexico, where they were located last weekend.
The father has been charged with incest and child abuse.
“To try to bring justice both to the 14-year-old girl, and it’s horrific what happened to her. But also, we need not forget that there was a baby that was also—life was taken as a result of just a whole bunch of bad things that happened in our community,” Nieto said.
The FBI is working with Mexican authorities to extradite the father to Monterey County.
An arrest warrant has also been issued for the daughter, but prosecutors said the Department of Justice informed them that Mexico does not extradite minors.
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