San Diego County Sheriff's Department: Crime Stoppers: Missing Child - Spring Valley

Press release from San Diego County Sheriff's Department:

02/25/2022 4:00 PM

San Diego County Crime Stoppers and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department want the public’s help in locating 45-year-old Wendy Gutierrez (pictured above).  She is accused of kidnapping her young daughter from a Spring Valley school and taking her to Mexico.

On February 22, 2022 at about 1:15 p.m., six-year-old Jolyn Gutierrez (pictured above) was seen walking south from Kempton Elementary School located in the 700 block of Kempton Street in Spring Valley.  School staff reported seeing Wendy Gutierrez, Jolyn's biological mother, walking away with her.  Wendy Gutierrez does not have custody of Jolyn at this time.

Wendy Gutierrez was last seen with Jolyn on February 22 just after 3:00 p.m. at the Jack in the Box located in the 3100 block of Plaza Boulevard in National City.  The above photos are stills from surveillance video taken inside the restaurant. 

On February 23, Sheriff's Investigators interviewed a witness who crossed the U.S./Mexico border the day before.  The witness described seeing a young girl and an older woman fitting the description of Jolyn and Wendy Gutierrez crossing into Tijuana, Mexico on foot.

Wendy Gutierrez is now wanted for kidnapping.

The Sheriff's Homicide Unit has assumed responsibility of the investigation. The Sheriff's Homicide Unit is responsible for the investigation of child abduction cases.

Jolyn Gutierrez is a Hispanic girl standing 3’ tall with long brown hair and brown eyes.  She was last seen wearing a mask, black zip-up hooded sweatshirt and black boots.

This press release was produced by San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.