Above: Damaris Herrera-Lopez in 2008 (left) and an age-progressed image to 11, circa 2009 (right)

Damaris Natalie Herrera-Lopez

Last seen in Yuma, Arizona on December 10, 2008

Vital statistics: Hispanic female. Born on October 29, 1998. Brown hair, brown eyes. She has a red birthmark on the right side of her forehead. Last seen wearing a navy blue polo shirt with the words "Harvest Prep," black pants, white socks, white shoes and green earrings. Was ten at the time.

NCIC number: M-047857264

Circumstances: She was last seen at a McDonald's restaraunt where she was being returned to her father, Reynado Gomez Herrera, from a visitation with her mother, Chrystal Abren Lopez. A photo and vital statistics for her are posted below. She became upset and left the restaraunt and was last seen running into an alley behind a nearby YMCA. The Yuma police spent several days searching for her in the area. Two weeks later, the police arrested her half-brother Richard Alvarez in connection with her disappearance. He was charged with custodial interference, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, providing false information to law enforcement, and fraudulent schemes; he was believed to have picked up Damaris on the night she vanished and hid her. She was reportedly staying in a house in San Luis Sonora, Mexico with her mother and other relatives. In January 2009, her mother gave media interviews that stated she had taken Damaris to keep her safe from her father. She said Damaris had accused her father of physically and sexually abusing her and their were charges pending against him in Arizona. Arizona authorities stated that no charges were pending against him. She also said Arizona police had tortured her nephew to gain information on her daughter's case; Arizona authorities say he was questioned but not harmed. Alvarez was convicted of fraudulent schemes and artifices and custodial interference and sentenced to 48 months of probation. There are previous domestic violence complaints filed by Lopez against Herrera, and authorities say that Lopez and Alvarez may have planted drugs in Herrera's home in an attempt to get him arrested. Warrants have been issued for the mother's arrest by United States and Mexican authorities; she is wanted for failure to appear in court for a custody hearing, fraudulent schemes, custodial interference, kidnapping, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. They may still be in Mexico.


Above: Chrystal Lopez in 2008

Vital statistics: Hispanic female. Born on December 13, 1967. Light brown hair, brown eyes. She may dye her hair black. Was thirty-eight at the time.

If you have any information as to Damaris' whereabouts, please contact the Yuma Police Department at 928-783-4421. Any information received can be kept confidential.


Information used to compile this casefile came from the following resources:
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The Charley Project
The Yuma Sun
KSWT 13

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