FBI asks for public's help in finding 5-year-old girl with ties to Washington

SEATTLE — The FBI's Seattle Field Office is asking for the public's help in locating a missing 5-year-old girl.

Officials said Aranza Lopez was allegedly removed from a mall in Vancouver, Washington on Oct. 25, 2018, by her biological mother, Esmeralda Lynn Lopez during a supervised visit.

After removing her daughter from the mall, Esmeralda Lopez was charged with kidnapping in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, theft in the second degree, identity theft in the second degree, and custodial interference in the first degree in Clark County, Washington, and a state warrant was issued for her arrest on October 26, 2018.

Esmeralda Lopez is also accused of kidnapping and robbing a man and taking his vehicle in Vancouver before removing her daughter from the mall.

FBI officials said Aranza is believed to be in Mexico with Esmeralda and her boyfriend, Gabriel Garcia Santos.

Aranza and Esmeralda have close ties to Washington and the FBI is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the recovery of Aranza, and the location, arrest and conviction of Esmeralda.

Anyone with information on the three individuals' location is asked to contact the FBI's Seattle Field Office at 206-622-0460. Tips can also be submitted online here.

KIRO 7 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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