SALEM, Ore. — A missing 11-year-old girl was safely located Tuesday evening, and a 48-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her kidnapping, according to Salem Police.
Authorities said the child was reported missing from her home around 5 p.m., prompting a search effort involving officers, a police bloodhound, and neighborhood canvassing.
Just after 8:30 p.m., a concerned neighbor flagged down a detective and officer to report suspicious activity. That tip led officers to a secluded area, about a quarter mile from the girl’s home, where they found the child hidden under shrubbery alongside suspect Elijah Galaviz Arce.
Arce was immediately arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail. He is charged with:
Second-degree kidnapping
First-degree sexual abuse
Unlawful delivery of methamphetamine
Police say the girl was not physically injured, but Deputy Chief Debra Aguilar called the circumstances “deeply concerning.”
Arce has a prior criminal record involving sexual offenses, leading detectives to suspect there may be additional victims. Authorities released a photo of Arce wearing a distinctive shirt and urged anyone with information to call Salem police at 503-588-8477.
“This kind of behavior doesn’t suddenly emerge — it’s often part of a pattern,” said Detective Grant Foster, of the Violent Crimes Unit.
The girl’s father recounted the terrifying moments leading up to her disappearance. “Our daughter was yelling, ‘She’s not picking blackberries!’ That’s when I knew something was wrong,” he said. “I don’t let them go off alone — and this is why.”
Police credited the community’s involvement for helping locate the girl, noting that surveillance footage and neighborhood participation were critical.
“The child was found thanks to a concerned community member,” said Aguilar. “This case shows the power of a watchful and proactive neighborhood.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
