A 19-year-old California teenager was found dead and a suspect was arrested in connection with the young woman’s shooting and kidnapping.
The body of Andrea Vazquez was found around 11:50 a.m. Tuesday in a patch of vegetation off Alessandro Boulevard and Merwin Street in the Moreno Valley, Whittier Police said.
The suspect, identified as Gabriel Esparza, 20, also from Whittier, was arrested without incident at his place of work in the town of Lakewood. He has been charged with murder and kidnapping and is being held without bail.
Police say they have seized a weapon believed to have been used in the crime and Esparza’s vehicle, a white 2013 Toyota Tocoma truck.
At this point, it appears that Vazquez and her boyfriend have been “arbitrarily targeted” by the suspect at Penn Park.
Andrea Vazquez, 19, went missing Sunday night and was found dead Tuesday, officials said. She was last seen with her boyfriend in a car at Penn Park in Whittier, a suburb of Los Angeles
The Penn Park parking lot at 13950 Penn Street in Whittier and the final location of Vazquez were seen Sunday night
The case will be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Wednesday for possible indictment. Further information on the case was not immediately available.
The missing woman’s boyfriend told police the events leading up to his girlfriend’s disappearance, while desperate friends and family prayed for her safe return.
The victim’s sister, Edlyn Vazquez, told KTLA News that she’s trying to stay hopeful, but said she’s “never felt a heartbreak like this.”
“I’m just trying to stay strong for her because now she’s coming back,” she said.
The missing woman’s distraught sister said she traced her sister’s phone to a field just off Highway 10 in the Moreno Valley early Sunday morning.
More blood was found at the site, she said, but there was no sign of her phone or sister.
Edlyn had a message to share with her sister, which she told KTLA that she “wouldn’t stop looking for her.”
“Just stay strong and we’re here searching,” Edlyn said in part.
She also sent an appeal to her captors: “If you have her, please just bring her home.” I don’t want to know. I have no questions for the person, nothing. I just want her to be home.’
The victim’s distraught sister, Edlyn Vazquez, prays for her sister’s safe return
It’s unclear what vehicle Vazquez and her boyfriend were in when an armed suspect pulled up in front of their car and fired shots in their direction
The flyer posted on Facebook by the Whittier Police Department asking the public for information about the mysterious disappearance of 19-year-old Andrea Vazquez
The Whittier Police Department released a photo of Vasquez with the caption, “Critically Missing Person/Kidnapping.”
Vasquez, a Los Angeles resident, is described as a Hispanic female, standing 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 103 pounds, with brown-red hair and brown eyes.
She was last spotted in a black long sleeve crop top, khaki pants and black low top Converse shoes.
The teenager has a tattoo of her sister’s name, Edlyn, on her neck. She also has the Aries constellation on the top of her right hand and a navel piercing.
“The investigators are actively working on the investigation and are following up all leads,” the article said.
We are asking anyone who was in Penn Park between 11:00 p.m. on 8/19/23 and 1:00 a.m. on 8/20/23 or has any information regarding this incident to contact our duty watch commander at 562-567-9255.
Authorities offered additional numbers for people to report information to, including Detective Jose Bolanos at 562-328-8504 or Detective Tom Nordbak at 562-244-0054 or their crime hotline at 562-567-9299.
Police did not respond to ‘s request for comment.