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Loved Ones Ask For Help Finding California Woman Presumed Kidnapped In Mexico
A Facebook group called "Help Us Find Monica De Leon" said she was allegedly forced into a van in Mexico on Nov. 29.
Family and friends are asking for help in finding a missing 29-year-old woman from California.
Monica De Leon, who is originally from San Mateo, California, was allegedly forced into a van in Mexico while walking her puppy, according to a Facebook group created to find De Leon. This was on Nov. 29 around 5 p.m. local time, as she was on her way to a gym in Tepatitlan, near Guadalajara.
A post in the group describes De Leon as a Hispanic woman, around 5-feet, 5-inches, with short, black hair and blonde highlights. She was last seen wearing a black shirt, black jeans and a white beanie. Her puppy was purportedly found walking in the streets, according to the Facebook group.
It’s unknown if someone saw her being kidnapped, or if it was seen on surveillance video. Oxygen.com has reached out to the group for more information on her disappearance.
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Loved ones are asking others to contact the U.S. Citizens Missing Abroad department, a part of the State Department.
A spokesman for the State Department told Fox News Digital, "The U.S. Department of State and our embassies and consulates abroad have no greater responsibility than the protection of U.S. citizens overseas. The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State."
The department did not immediately respond to Oxygen.com’s request for comment.
Her loved ones are also asking people to call California Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who represents the 14th congressional district — an area southeast of San Francisco, encompassing a majority of Alameda County.
Speier said in a statement to Oxygen.com, "I am actively engaged in the case and in daily contact with the family and various federal agencies. It is imperative that we do everything possible to find Monica."
Family and friends are also calling on individuals to contact California Senator Alex Padilla’s office. Diana Martin, Sen. Padilla’s Deputy Communications Director, told Oxygen.com his office couldn’t comment on current casework without consent or authorization.
Monica's brother, Gustavo De Leon, tells Oxygen.com the offices of Speier, Padilla, and California Senator Dianne Feinstein have all assured his family the FBI and State Department are using their resources to do as much as possible.
"At this point, if we could get a message out, we would ask Mexican officials to also place the importance that this case merits into finding my sister who was abducted in plain daylight, blocks away from a national guard station," Gustavo De Leon told Oxygen.com.
