Missing Indian American Teen Found With 25-year-old Man Who was Arrested and Charged With Statutory Rape
- Pooja Nafri, 15, was reported missing from her home in southwest Berkeley, Calif. on July 20.
A 25-year-old Californian man was arrested on July 21 and charged with statutory rape, after a missing Indian American teen was located in his home. As per a press release issued by the Berkeley Police Department, Pooja Nafri, 15, was reported missing from her home in southwest Berkeley on July 20.
Citing a Nixle alert issued by the Berkeley Police Department, The Daily Californian reported that Nafri was “described as having a medium build and long black hair as well as possibly wearing a blue jean jacket and white sandals.”
The police department press release notes that while officers searched the area and notified the community, detectives worked through the night to investigate Nafri’s disappearance. When they learned that Nafri could be with a 25-year-old man in the City of Stockton, they obtained a warrant for the suspect’s home and drove to Stockton to search for the missing teen, the press release said.
Nafri was eventually found in the man’s home, and the man was initially arrested on suspicion of child stealing as well as arranging and meeting with a minor for lewd and lascivious behavior, according to the press release. Further investigation into the events of Nafri’s disappearance prompted the addition of a statutory rape charge.
“We are thankful we were able to reunite the missing 15-year-old with her family and we are grateful for the community’s assistance in locating her,” added the press release.