**Tijuana: Missing Teenager Unreachable for Over 11 Days After Fleeing State Shelter**
In Tijuana, a 14-year-old girl named Camila Shalom has been missing for over 11 days since she fled from a state-run shelter for minors. Her mother, Elizabeth Higuera, expressed her distress and frustration over the ongoing search for her daughter.
Camila was last spotted on September 22, 2024, near the Río Tijuana Third Stage neighborhood, where the shelter is situated. Elizabeth Higuera claims that it wasn’t until September 26 that DIF officials informed her that Camila had left the facility.
There are conflicting accounts of Camila’s escape, with some suggesting she jumped from the laundry area into a convenience store, while others allege she scaled a fence leading to a shopping plaza. Friends and family have joined Elizabeth in searching local areas, including the Zona Centro and Avenida Revolución, where Camila was reportedly seen with another minor, but these efforts have yet to yield any success.
Camila had initially been placed in the DIF shelter after being located by the State Attorney’s Office, following a previous escape from home. Elizabeth was unable to pick her up at the time due to academy training commitments and is now pleading with the public for help in finding her daughter.
Camila Shalom is described as 1.62 meters tall, with a slim build, fair complexion, dark brown straight shoulder-length hair, and distinctive features including thick eyebrows, dark brown almond-shaped eyes, medium-sized nose, and a noticeable mole on her right shoulder.
**Recent Developments on Social Services and Child Welfare in Tijuana**
In light of Camila’s disappearance, the state shelter system in Tijuana is under increased scrutiny, particularly concerning its handling of minors who work the streets and are considered vulnerable. There have been reports of a lack of adequate supervision and security that may contribute to similar incidents.
Moreover, the increase in the number of adoptions in the state has sparked discussions about the welfare of children still within the system. Roughly 70% of minors in state care in Baja California have reportedly suffered from neglect, intensifying calls for improvements in child protection services.
In other news, a proposal for a dedicated wall to display photographs of missing persons is gathering momentum in Tijuana, aiming to provide a public platform to aid in the search for disappeared individuals. As authorities continue their investigation into occurrences like Camila’s disappearance, community-led initiatives hope to offer some resolution and visibility.
Stay informed with the latest updates on these ongoing issues at TJGringo.com.