Pensacola News Journal



Undocumented immigrant sought in Escambia Amber Alert charged with sex assault of child




Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal
Mon, November 14, 2022 at 2:54 PM


An undocumented Mexican immigrant involved in a July Amber Alert was extradited to Escambia County Thursday and charged with sexual battery of a minor under 12 years old.

Brijido Manriquez-Ortiz, 43, was charged with the capital felony after an 11-year-old told authorities she and Manriquez-Ortiz had "sexual intercourse with" each other.

Manriquez-Ortiz, who illegally remained in the United States after his work visa expired in 2020, was working at Steve's Catfish Farm and was initially believed to be involved in the girl's disappearance.

Originally charged: Man connected to 11-year-old Escambia girl in Amber Alert charged with sexual assault

Girl found: 11-year-old Escambia County, Florida girl found safely in Foley

An Amber Alert was issued after the girl was discovered missing July 28, and an opening had been cut in the screen of the girl's window.

An investigation later determined Manriquez-Ortiz had not been present during the girl's disappearance as the child's father personally drove him to Atlanta, Georgia, after the girl and Manriquez-Ortiz were found "in a kissing situation."

The child was located in Foley, Alabama, and Manriquez-Ortiz was found in Laredo, Texas on July 29.

It is unknown how the child ended up in Alabama, but the arrest report indicates a security camera on a grain elevator on the farm shows a white vehicle pulling up and stopping at the home the night before the girl's disappearance.

The girl was found in Foley in a white truck that was reported stolen from Steve's Catfish Farm. It was reported that an "unidentified Hispanic male" was driving the truck, "but left the area on foot prior to the arrival of law enforcement."

The man was not located.

Manriquez-Ortiz was charged after "sexually explicit texts and photographs" between the child and Manriquez-Ortiz were found on her phone.

Manriquez-Ortiz is held in Escambia County Jail without bond.

Benjamin Johnson can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com or 850-435-8578
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia minor case: Undocumented immigrant charged with sex assault


https://www.yahoo.com/news/undocumen...195423604.html