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Amber Alert: Mother of missing 12-year-old speaks out

By Ray Gomez

Story Created: Sep 23, 2009

Story Updated: Sep 24, 2009

The mother of a 12 year old is speaking out one day after her daughter goes missing.
Sandra Rivas says she may know who's responsible for the girl's disappearance.
The amber alert was officially issued around noon today.
A description of a person of interest soon followed.
The mother of a middle school student says it’s been a whirlwind of a day and can't believe what she's dealing with.
“She’s a good student and a good daughter.”
Still in shock, Sandra Rivas tries to find an explanation as to why her 12-year-old daughter has disappeared.
“She couldn’t have left on her own,” she says.
“She was going to the store. She left the house and never returned,” says Officer Alberto Escobedo.
Rivas said her youngest daughter was actually the one who woke her up on Tuesday morning, saying Karla was going to the corner store and wouldn't take her along.
Police and Sheriff's deputies are now investigating but are not calling the case a kidnapping.
“Our juvenile enforcement team is doing the investigation. They’re following up on good leads.”
However Rivas says a 28-year-old man who was renting a room at the residence in the 3900 block of Barcelona may be responsible.
Police released details of Jose Angel Cruz, also known as Giovanni, earlier this afternoon hoping to gather more information.
For now the girl’s mother only hopes Karla will return safely.
“No matter what happened” she says, “I need her with me. I feel so bad. I don’t even know what to think. Why did she leave? I don’t treat her badly.”
Rivas says the 28 year old has been living at the residence for about two months.
She also says earlier that morning, Karla had refused to go to school earlier that morning but doesn’t think she would just leave without permission.
So many questions are still unanswered.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 795-2800 or 727-tips.

Karla Victoria
Yrigoyen-Rivas, Hispanic female, 12 years old, date of birth
August 28, 1997. Height 5 feet tall, weight 100 pounds, black hair, brown eyes, white blouse, blue jeans, and black sandals.

Police are looking for Jose Angel Cruz in her abduction. He is
Also known as Giovanni. He is a Hispanic male, 28 years old,
Height 5 feet, six inches, weight 200 pounds, bald, and last seen
Wearing a blue muscle shirt, blue jeans, and yellow boots, devil head skull on right arm and Medusa on right leg.

Law enforcement officials believe this child to be in grave or
Immediate danger.

If you have any information regarding this abduction, call the Laredo police department.