A little girl is safe after three weeks on the run with the father accused of killing her mother.

Police arrested Ruben Fregoso in Mexico after a three-week search and found his five-year-old daughter unharmed.

A five-year-old girl is finally safe after spending three weeks on the run with the man police say killed her mother. This is the nightmare that kept a Los Angeles neighborhood on edge for nearly a month.

WHAT HAPPENED

It started on May 24, 2026. Police say Ruben Fregoso, 40, took his young daughter and fled from their West Adams home. The next day, police found the body of the child's mother, 36-year-old Marysol Garcia.

Officers soon found Fregoso’s car near the border of Mexico. But the father and daughter had vanished into the neighboring country.

Over the weekend, Mexican police tracked down Fregoso and took him into custody. They found the young girl safe and placed her in the care of Mexican welfare officials.

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS

• May 24, 2026: Ruben Fregoso and his daughter were last seen in West Adams.
• May 25, 2026: Police found Marysol Garcia dead inside her home.
• 1 car: Fregoso's vehicle was found near the U.S.-Mexico border.
• 3 weeks: The length of time the child was missing before police found her.
• 2 charges: Fregoso faces one count of murder and one lesser charge of child abuse.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

How does a parent cross the border with a child who is the subject of an active Amber Alert? We often think of borders as tight and secure, yet a suspect managed to slip through with a five-year-old girl.

This case shows how easily people can slip past checkpoints when they are desperate to hide.

THE OTHER SIDE

Fregoso has not yet entered a plea in court. His defense team has not made a public statement about the charges. Under the law, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Given that his car was found near the border, the defense will need to address his sudden travel to Mexico.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

The U.S. Embassy is working to bring the five-year-old girl back to her family in California. Meanwhile, officials are starting the process to bring Fregoso back to Los Angeles to face trial.

If a jury finds him guilty, he could spend 25 years to life in a state prison.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

How did Fregoso cross the border into Mexico without detection?

• Who was helping Fregoso hide during his three weeks on the run?
• Where will the five-year-old girl live now that her mother is gone?