Isabel Gallego, who disappeared from Sacramento earlier this year at age 17, has been found safe after police in Portland, Oregon, took into custody the man she was allegedly with.
The Sacramento Police Department announced the news Thursday night, shortly after 8 p.m., offering limited details about Gallego’s condition or the circumstances of her recovery. In a social media post, police stated, “She was located safely and plans are being set to reunite her with her family.”
Gallego, now 18, was reported missing in April. Authorities believed she was with Kyree Jackson, 25, at the time of her disappearance. The Portland Police Bureau confirmed they had “located Kyree and arrested him for his warrant,” according to the Sacramento police post.
UPDATE: @PortlandPolice located Kyree and arrested him for his warrant. Isabel was located safely and plans are being set to reunite her with her family. https://t.co/w3bueAkBin
— Sacramento Police Department (@SacPolice) July 19, 2024
Multnomah County jail records indicate Jackson’s booking was completed just after 9 p.m. However, the facility’s roster did not specify the charges he faces, nor have authorities detailed how his arrest is connected to Gallego’s disappearance. Jackson was wanted on two felony charges in Sacramento County for illegal possession of a firearm and theft of a motor vehicle.
Gallego, a high school senior enrolled in an independent study program, was last seen by her parents on the night of April 19. Her mother, Julie Gallego, reported that Isabel left her phone in her room and took only a backpack with her.
In an interview with The Sacramento Bee, Julie Gallego described her daughter as “very creative,” frequently changing her hair color, which was green when she vanished. Isabel was also involved in Sacramento’s punk rock scene. “This was just not in her plan,” Julie Gallego said.
Court records reveal that Jackson skipped pretrial proceedings in his criminal case and tampered with his court-issued ankle-monitoring device, rendering it disabled. Julie Gallego said her daughter met Jackson about two weeks before she went missing and that her friends knew Jackson as “a pimp.” Julie expressed concern over Isabel’s trusting nature, saying it was “probably her downfall.”
Following her departure from Sacramento, Isabel was reportedly tracked to Portland before being spotted in Seattle, according to police. She was considered at-risk due to her age, and Sacramento Police Department spokesperson Officer Anthony Gamble stated that investigators believed her to be a victim of human trafficking.
The safe recovery of Isabel Gallego brings relief to her family and community, highlighting the ongoing concerns surrounding missing teens and the dangers they face. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of her disappearance and Jackson’s involvement.