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Missing Whittier girl found, in protective custody
A 12-year-old Whittier girl who went missing Friday was found and taken into protective custody by police Saturday.
Authorities said Stephanie Brie Rodriguez was found in Anza, a rural area of Riverside County, east of Temecula at about 10:45 a.m.
Officials did not immediately release details about her recovery.
Whittier police said Rodriguez left her home in the 11500 block of Broadway Avenue in Whittier at about 2 p.m. Friday, after she left a note with her parents.
Police believe Rodriguez then met with 20-year-old Ivan Felipe Cerda of Vista, Calif. and the two drove down to North County, San Diego to Certa's mother's home, where they stopped briefly before taking off again.
Authorities said Rodriguez met Cerda online. The name of the website was not immediately released, but officials said it is a social networking site associated with PlayStation.
Rodriguez and Cerda gave no indication of where they were headed, according to police. What is most concerning to authorities is the nature in which the two met and the age difference between the two.
"For anyone that's especially a juvenile who is developing a relationship online, you just don't know who these people are," said Whittier Police Department Cpl. Jason Zohlke.
If you have any information regarding this case, you're urged to contact Whittier police at (562) 567-9255.
Source: ABC News