Prayers for the Hemphills

[silverbugget]

Our prayers are with ya.

http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?p=782452

[Ovalnut]

WTF?  Damn, this is crazy.  Latest update says she was found in Las Vegas.  Hope all is well.

[skeeter!]

I heard about this on the news this morning-- didn't connect the dots until they showed Bob's video, and I said "holy crap I know this guy"... now it sounds like it's over, fortunately....

[mmccarthy]

 I hope they make sure he won't do anything like this again, 13 years old, she's still a baby. Sometimes I think the old cowboy justice system had it's merits.  Mike

[Kathy Lachance Post]

So happy to hear they've found her. 
The very best wishes for the Hemphill family.

[turbo_bob]

Hi all, thanks for the concern and reply's.

I am at work and do not have time to give a detailed followup about this ordeal.

Detectives also took the home computer, don't know when I will get that back?

Be back later, Bob

[gbaker770]

We are so very happy for your family Bob.

[madoski]

Bob, hope that things get back to normal for  you guys as quickly as possible.  I don't know what I'd do if anything like this happened to my daughter.

[QuickKafer]

My God! What is this world coming to?  I just read this post this morning.  Being here in Vegas, please call on me if you need anything.

I can't imagine the panic you must have felt! Thank God the worst is over and your baby is safe.

Scott Faivre
7 Oh two - 845 - ten twentyone

[WV-VW]

Amen!! I agree..Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time! 

[turbo_bob]

Again, thank ALL of you VW people here, friends for the payers. The FBI still has my home computer for forensic analysis, still no time frame when I get that back.

I would like to share with you that the Lopez family was cooperative with us and the older brother apologized to us.

On Sunday morning when I woke up, Miranda not in bed, I started to check around the house, then the garage, then the outback sheds, then the RV, then back in her room to find a message on a dry erase board that she left and do not come and look for her. After seeing that I told Diana this and well you know. We called the PD, two hours later a report was made as a run-a-way. Well that did not sit well with us, we knew timing was essential in these matters. At this point as a family we were doing everything that we could do to get any clues to find her. We had friends and family come over to our house, look over the computer, her bedroom. We looked up our phone bill on the internet, which showed all of the hundreds of text messages to the same number, right up to Sunday morning 2:19 AM. We did a reverse billing search on that cell number, which led us to the home address and the home phone number. Diana, her brother and a friend drove to the home, and they spoke with the mother and brothers. She confirmed that he was missing and does not answer his phone, we told them the same thing about Miranda. Diana left our phone number with them and the father called back 8:01 AM Monday morning. He confirmed that he was 22, not 17, what type of car and description of it. The brother called us on Monday and was very helpful, giving us many leads, all of this was relayed to the detectives. Basically early Monday morning we knew more than law enforcement about the case. Later that day the law caught up to us and realized there is a prior offense with this 22 year old. At this point they got the DA to get extraditing forms on him. Then later that night they came and got the home computer. Then 3:00 AM Tuesday I woke after only four hours sleep in two days to the doorbell. Two men in black, black car out in front were at the front door, they were led San Bernardino County homicide detectives. They told me that they got the Amber Alert activated for So Cal only. Well I think there in Vegas or even further East I told them ? They knew a few things that they could not tell me. They told me to be ready for the media onslaught which is coming. And yes at 5:30 AM was the first phone interview with the news, then a couple hours later about seven news vans were parked out in front. I figured as much as I did not want to do this stuff, I thought the exposure would help. Then around 10:45 AM Tuesday we got a call from one of the detectives on the case "we got her". OMG what a re-leaf that was to hear that news. Later that evening we were told to meet her and the detectives at the hospital in Redlands. They did what they had to do for Miranda and released her to us around 11:30 PM Tuesday.

[turbo_bob]

For Immediate Release
October 28, 2010    United States Attorney's Office
Central District of California
Contact: (213) 894-2434

California Man Faces Federal Charge for Taking 13-Year-Old Girl to Las Vegas to Have Sex
RIVERSIDE, CA—A man who allegedly brought a 13-year-old San Bernardino County girl to Las Vegas, Nevada has been arrested and charged with a federal offense of interstate transportation of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Ivan Lopez, 22, who resides in the South Los Angeles town of Lennox, was arrested Tuesday night after federal and local law enforcement officers located his van outside a motel in South Las Vegas. According to a criminal complaint filed yesterday in United States District Court, Lopez had driven to the motel with a 13-year-old girl he had picked up at her Victorville home after her parents had gone to bed. Lopez had arranged to pick up the girl after spending approximately six months chatting with the girl on the social networking sites MySpace and Twinkle.
Lopez allegedly picked up the girl at her home on Sunday. After the girl’s parents reported her missing to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, investigators identified Lopez as a suspect in the case, according to the criminal complaint. Lopez’s vehicle was the subject of an Amber Alert, and the United States Marshals Service located the vehicle in South Las Vegas Tuesday morning. Lopez was arrested Tuesday evening by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Lopez made his initial court appearance yesterday afternoon in United States District Court in Las Vegas, where a United States Magistrate Judge ordered him held without bail. The Marshals Service was ordered to return Lopez to Riverside for further court proceedings.
According to an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint, Lopez contacted the 13-year-old girl using MySpace and Twinkle, a social networking application for Apple handheld devices. In his second month of communications with the 13-year-old, Lopez asked her to be his “girlfriend,” despite her reminding him of her young age. Lopez communicated regularly with the girl via the Internet, text messaging and telephone calls, telling her about plans to have sex and to run away and go “East.” Lopez allegedly drove to the girl's house early Sunday morning after the girl’s parents had gone to sleep.

According to the affidavit, Lopez is currently facing unrelated charges in San Bernardino County of engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.

The federal charge of transporting a minor with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity carries a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence in federal prison and a potential sentence of life without parole.

The case against Lopez was investigated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.

CONTACT:
Assistant United States Attorney Priya Sopori
Riverside branch office
(951) 276-6930

Press Releases | Los Angeles Home

[turbo_bob]

"According to the affidavit, Lopez is currently facing unrelated charges in San Bernardino County of engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl."

PC 288A(B)(1)
http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/registration/offenses.aspx

[John P]

Bob,

I can only imagine what your family has gone through - unbelievable! I'm relieved that she is safe and found!

J

[fifty-five]

Wow, I don't quite know what to say other than you have my prayers and I'm glad she made it home safe!

[VW NOT V8]

I do not know how I can do it but, my intentions are to be selected as a juror  for Lopez' trial.

Judge: Do you personally know this defendant or his victim?

Me: No, your Honor, I do not.

Judge: Great, you'll do.


After the conviction, I would be curious to know how Lopez is getting along with his new found friends, playing as their bitch!

Sincerely,
The Mailman

[turbo_bob]

I got the home computer back after 60 days. Still no word about the trial date?

[skeeter!]

I'm sure you'll keep us all informed, Bob.

[turbo_bob]

9-12-11 Sentenced, Ivan Lopez early plead guilty to the charges without going to trial, today was the sentencing. 84 months, a lifetime of parole and sex offender tag to follow after he is out.

Thank You all for the prayers and concern.

[turbo_bob]

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_websexoffender.16545ca8c.html