Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Missing Teen Girl May Be With Boyfriend in San Diego

Helena Montilla, 16, was last seen leaving Aragon High School on March 5.

Update: Previous reports stated the car was stolen from the boyfriend's grandmother, but Foster City police have since told Patch otherwise. "I had told a reporter I thought it may have been taken from the grandmother, but was not certain. The car was loaned to him by a friend, but was not returned," Foster City Police Capt. Jon Froomin said. Changes to the story have been made in bold.

A teenage girl who a little more than a week ago from her San Mateo high school may be in the San Diego area, Foster City police said today.

Helena Montilla, 16, was seen leaving Aragon High School at about 1 p.m. on March 5, police said.

Find out what's happening in Belmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Authorities believe Montilla left town with her 18-year-old boyfriend in a 2000 Acura Integra loaned to him by a friend, but not returned, Foster City police Capt. Jon Froomin said.

The license plate number on the Acura is 4MAH184.

Find out what's happening in Belmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Over the weekend, residents of a San Diego neighborhood spotted a suspicious car on their street, and the license plate number matched that of the Acura, Froomin said.

"The advantage of the boyfriend taking the car is that it gets him in the system," Froomin said. "If police look up the plate number, he's associated with the missing person."

Froomin said he is unsure whether any charges will be filed if the pair returns home.

"She's gone of her own free will," he said. "We'll certainly look into charges, but our most important concern is getting the young lady home."

Montilla is described as 5 feet 1 inch tall and 100 pounds, with brown hair, black eyes, and a pierced nose, belly button, and pierced ears. She has a tattoo on her right hip.

Anyone with information on Montilla's whereabouts is encouraged to contact Foster City police at (650) 286-3300.

-- Bay City News


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.