Salinas Woman Missing, Feared Dead
SALINAS—The Salinas Police Department have been investigating a missing person case since the Thanksgiving holiday. Investigators have been looking for Leticia Morales-Soto, 35 from Salinas and, upon reviewing the evidence, they fear the worst.
Rafael Carballo
On Thanksgiving Day, Morales-Soto was busy cooking a Thanksgiving meal for her family. Realizing, that she needed a few items she left with her uncle and went to the store.
Morales-Soto
After leaving the store with the items, she received a call from a friend that she referred to as “Rafa” requesting a ride. She then dropped her uncle off at a different location and went to pick up “Rafa”. That was the last time that family members have seen or heard from Morales-Soto.
The next day at approximately 1 p.m., Rafael Carballo, 37, of Salinas went to the Salinas Police Department and filed a police report claiming that he had been a victim of an assault that occurred at Natividad Creek Park on Thanksgiving Day. An officer took a battery report and took photographs of wounds that Carballo sustained in the struggle.
Soto's Car
Later that day, Morales-Soto’s husband Ismael Contreras called the Salinas Police and told them that he found his wife’s car, a white Mitsubishi Mirage, at the dead end on Garner Avenue. It appeared to be unlocked and abandoned; the car was towed and processed for evidence.
When the officer contacted Contreras he took them over to “Rafa’s” house in an attempt to interview him as to what happened that day. One of the officers thought he recognized some of his family members. He was right; these were the same people that accompanied Caballo to the Police Station when he filed the report.
“Rafa” now known as Rafael Carballo (Rodriguez) was not there at his residence and the family has not seen him. His family has also filed a missing persons report on him. Salinas Police have unconfirmed evidence that he might be in Mexico.
The Salinas Police Department enlisted the help of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team. They have conducted two searches for Morales-Soto in the Natividad Creek Park area and they have not yield any evidence or leads in the case.
Base upon the circumstance in this case, Salinas Police have secured an arrest warrant for Carballo. “Based upon what we have we are taking a hard look at Caballo as a suspect in her disappearance,” Salinas Police Officer Miguel Cabrera said. “Our investigators have been working very hard on this case since she was reported missing.”
The Salinas Police is asking for the public help in this case. Anyone who has seen Leticia Morales-Soto or has information is asked to contact them at 1-831-758-7226. If anyone sees or knows of the whereabouts of Rafael “Rafa” Caballo (Rodriguez) they are asked to call the Salinas Police Department at 1-831-758-7321.
Read More:
KSBW: Missing Woman Likely Dead
The Californian: Missing Salinas Woman Believed Dead
