Search continues on Sonoma County coast for missing Vallejo teen

ByLaura Anthony and Melanie Woodrow KGO logo
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Search continues on Sonoma County coast in search of missing Vallejo teen
Searchers are spread out along the Sonoma County coast in search of teenage girl who was kidnapped two days ago in Solano County.

VALLEJO, Calif. (KGO) -- Pearl Pinson was abducted kicking and screaming on Wednesday. Police say she was taken in Vallejo.

Today, efforts to find her shifted 70 miles west, to the Sonoma County coastal town of Jenner. Investigators say a strong lead brought them to the Willow Creek area.

RELATED: Police kill only person who may know whereabouts of missing Vallejo teen

Solano County Sheriffs won't say exactly what led them to the location, but clearly there was something substantial in their leads that led them to the area. There are both ground searches, with dogs as well as boats out on the water. The area is residential and runs right along the Russian River.

This comes after Pearl's suspected kidnapper, 19-year-old Fernando Castro, was killed in a shootout with police near Solvang in Santa Barbara County Thursday afternoon.

Castro was spotted in a gold Saturn after an Amber Alert was issued earlier in the day. Pearl was not with him in the car.

"We haven't ruled anything out at this point. It's still a search and rescue operation and we're hopeful we're going to bring Pearl home to her family," said Christine Castillo of the Solano County Sheriff's Office.

Pearl's family very much holding out hope that she is alive and will be found safe. They have been focusing their efforts on the walking bridge where she was last seen.

"It's heartbreaking knowing she's still not found. It's upsetting that Fernando was killed because he's the one with the answers to our questions. He's the main source who knows where she's at," siad Pearl's sister Rose Pinson.

The search is being conducted by several different agencies, Solano sheriffs being the lead, but also Sonoma County and now the FBI is involved.

With Castro gone investigators are combing through countless tips. They say the most promising ones are in Jenner.

Rescue efforts will resume Saturday morning with additional help to search nearby waterways.

A GoFundMe account has been set up by the family to help find Pearl.