Thanks to community members emboldened in a frantic search, a 12-year-old girl who was reported missing since Tuesday, July 25, was found Monday evening and reunited with her family.
After being reported missing, Mayra Espinoza became the center of a community-led search in which Mission District leaders organized and posted flyers encouraging the public to send tips on her whereabouts.
Tracy Gallardo-Brown, an aide to District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, texted Mission Local Monday evening, that “within minutes of the Monday call to action, the flyer was blasted and tips came in leading to her safely being located.”
“In this community, our children are sacred and the call to action was answered. Thank you to all who volunteered in the community, and … to the Excelsior crew for countless hours over the weekend to organize the Monday action that led to finding her,” Gallardo-Brown continued.
She noted the school Espinoza attends, Everett Middle School, also put out a call to action.
It is unclear how Espinoza was found and why she disappeared.
As of Monday early afternoon, Espinoza had last been seen in the neighborhood on Friday, July 29, at El Capitan Hotel, a single-room occupancy hotel at 2361 Mission St. near 20th Street.
An employee at El Capitan Hotel confirmed to Mission Local early Monday afternoon that he had heard Espinoza was missing, but said he had not personally seen her on the premises. The employee said he believed Espinoza was visiting her friend, a young man who lives at El Capitan with his family.
By early Monday afternoon, missing person flyers were posted along the storefronts and electric poles on Mission Street near the hotel and circulated on social media. Residents coming in and out of the hotel said they did not recognize nor had they seen Espinoza.
The San Francisco Police Department said that Espinoza had last been seen at her home on Persia Avenue at about 4 a.m. on July 25. However, she was “no longer at home later that morning,” according to police.
STORIES WITH A HAPPY ENDING ARE NOT EASY TO FIND. I’M SO RELIEVED THAT LITTLE MAYRA FOUND HER WAY HOME. STAY SAFE .
This is so sad 🙁 I really hope she is found soon!!! Best wishes to the family
Thank God They found her.
Great Story. ML please start a separate section just with happy stories. It’s much to constantly read about the glooms and dooms.
Glad they found her but article fails to state if she was a runaway or held against her will. Was she mad at her parents so wanted to put the scare in them so purposely did not check in with them?
@Reader: I agree there are too many doom & gloom stories. But sometimes it’s best not to ignore or pretend the events don’t exist. Example of when Trump was president & he ordered Hispanic kids & parents to separate forcefully. Doom & gloom for sure. Glad I wasn’t one of the ones who did nothing because ya doom & gloom.