A traffic stop in Northern Arizona turned key in unraveling the whereabouts of a missing Alabama teenager, and resulting in the arrest of a 32-year-old man, as per the Navajo County Sheriff's Office. Officials stopped Raul Alexis Arellano-Romero on Interstate 40 near North Sun Valley Road in Sun Valley, just northeast of Holbrook, when they discovered the girl hidden beneath a blanket in the front passenger seat. Arellano-Romero, who initially claimed the girl was a 19-year-old acquaintance from Las Vegas, revealed a different story upon questioning.
According to AZFamily, inconsistencies and nervous behavior sparked deeper questioning by the detective, leading to the girl revealing her true identity as a 13-year-old from Albertville, Alabama. The youth, who had been missing since April 19, appeared to be sporting fake tattoos, possibly as a means to conceal her identity. Arellano-Romero's encounter with the girl was not a first; he had faced arrest in Massachusetts in the previous year for taking the same girl from her guardians' custody and was released on bond.
Furtive attempts at disguise, including fake tattoos and a fake ID, could not outwit law enforcement, as shared by 12News. After her true age and details came to light, the case dovetailed with the ongoing search for her since her April disappearance alongside her dog. Thankfully, the teen was found unharmed.
Arellano-Romero is currently held at the Navajo County jail, with a bond set at $100,000. Details on his previous arrest indicate a troubling pattern of behavior towards the minor, complicating his legal predicament.
