Update: Gabriella and Chiara have been found safe in Los Angeles County, California. No other information has been released.
The Mill Creek Police Department posted about a missing mother and her child, who they say disappeared under “unexplained and suspicious circumstances”.
Gabriella Harkness and her 1-year-old daughter, Chiara, were discovered to be missing this morning from the home they share with Gabriella’s parents in the Highlands neighborhood of Mill Creek, Wash.
Police say that Gabriella and her daughter left her home sometime this morning with David Merino.
A protective order is in place against David and there is history of abuse. Despite the protective order, he has been contacting Gabriella and trying to meet up with her.
Gabriella’s parents were called earlier this month because she needed help. She had been living with David in Orange County, California, and he had left her out on the street with bruises all over her arms- both new and old. When they got down there, David was in jail on domestic violence charges.
They ended up flying her to Mill Creek, Washington, after that to stay with them.
On the Thursday before she disappeared, David showed up late at night- meaning he travelled all the way from California. Her parents called the police and he was once again arrested, this time for criminal trespassing.
According to Gabriella’s father (K5 News), David was sending Gabriella text messages that were “pretty harsh” and “sending packages asking her to meet him at the park and to not tell her father”.
The Washington State Police have issued an Endangered Missing Persons Alert.
They may be traveling in white a 2016 Volkswagen GTI with California plates 7RYB200.
Gabriella Harkness is 22 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes, 5′ 9″ tall and 115 pounds. Chiara is 1 year old, with brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen wearing a blue flower dress.
David Merino is 30 years old with brown eyes, black hair, 5′ 9″ tall and 180 pounds.
David Merino
Endangered missing persons alert for Mill Creek mother and baby
City of Mill Creek article