Karina Valencia Missing: 13-Year-Old May Have Met Man She Met on MySpace

• i think tht he should go to jail but then he shouldent becuz she agreed to leave with him she probably told him were to meet her at n pick her up n in the case it was at her friends party she must of told him to go to the party n pick her up there n she took off with the guy n turned off her phone so they wouldent know were shes at but they found her thts the good thing now shes home with her family safe n sound hopefully he dint touch her but if he did she probably let her self.

• "DISGUSTED" STOP YELLING!!! We get your point, now stop writing in caps, your making my eyeballs HURT!

• Stir fried and served to him LOL! Oh, that'll make an impression. LOL!!! Agreed, he's a pedophile. He should be charged with being sexual predator and child molester. Please, he's a criminal who needs to be in jail.

• amen Russell-I'm willing to bet he's got priors of some kind too.

• Some of you people talk as if she were grown up! She is still young, naive and just plain ignorant of so many things. She thinks a 20 YO man would be interested in a serious relationship with a 13 YO girl? I'd bet anything this bastard had something really bad in store for her. She is guilty of being stupid, and she may be able recover from that, but this 20 YO pervert should have his balls stir-fried and fed to him as his last meal.

• KIDS NOWADAYS,THEY WANT TO GROW UP TOOOO FAST.WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN I WAS STILL HIDING BHIND MY MOMS DRESS!!!PLEASE KIDS TAKE UR TIME TO GROW UP.THERE IS TOO MANY PERVERTS OUT THERE!!B CAREFUL WHO U MEET N WHERE U GO.

• KIDS NOWADAYS,THEY WANT TO GROW UP TOOOO FAST.WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN I WAS STILL HIDING BHIND MY MOMS DRESS!!!PLEASE KIDS TAKE UR TIME TO GROW UP.THERE IS TOO MANY PERVERTS OUT THERE!!B CAREFUL WHO U MEET N WHERE U GO.

• I'm thrilled to hear that she is ok. Where there's a will, there's a way. That rule applies to parents too. So if the parents don't want their child to have any access to TV, they find a way to keep their kids away from it. If you don't want your child to have any access to a computer, you'll find a way to make that happen. When parents work in cooperation, they can thwart the shenanigans of their children quite effectively. Don't treat your kids as if they are 10 feet tall and twice as smart as you. Because the moment you do, they win and you have lost all control. Of course they want to win, they don't think they're dangerous. The thing is, they actually get a kick out of being scary. Up until they wield their power without any concept of consequences. Then they hurt themselves, like this girl did, and the only reaction they'll have is "oops." Because they don't know any better yet! I hope her parents will now proactively guide and correct her and demonstrate just what else could have happened and how to avoid it from now on. We already have a Lord of the Flies mentality on the interwebs, we cannot allow it spread into real life.

• wats rong with the world now theres alot of ppl gone messing n alot of killing guys killing there girls cuz they dont want to be a dad thts stupid n this lil girl left with some guy thts 20 thts just some stupid shit this lil girl needs to learn how to grow up 1st.

• It is rare that there is a happy ending to such stories, but I'm glad this was one of them! Her parents can rest safe and sound now, after thanking their lucky stars, knowing that Karina Valencia is grounded for the next five years.

• well she shouldent of left like tht wat if he did something bad to her he could of killed her she dint think of the bad stuff tht could of happend to her well just thnk good shes ok now n hope she dosent do tht again becuz her parents were really worried 4 her.

• I am glad they found her alive

• Leah, we know we were lucky. We even knew that calling the hotline was wrong. I just never imagined it would go that far. It's sad to look back and realize that you could have become a statistic. Our younger sister was there too, but she was asleep. I am thankful that he wasn't even aware that she was in the house.

• I agree with Urban Safety Solutions. Come on, like Mark said - look at Jessie Slaughter. If she isn't a prime example of why we as parents should take this sort of thing more seriously then who is? Even if this girl was hurt or disappeared for another reason - it still brings us back to the fact that we should not be giving our children free reign on the internet.

• Parents, don't allow your children to have computers in bedroom. Protect your kids from online predators with computer activity tracking software which will show you everything viewed and entered on computer including social media sites.

• Myspace may be the ghetto of social networking sites, but don't think this shit don't go on Facebook as well. Maybe it's less publicized, but these maggots are everywhere lurking for opportunity to harm underage kids. We live in a "Wired" age, as much as it creates opportunities for these creeps to prey on innocent victims, so it also helps to quicken and facilitate their capture. Everyone and I mean everyone leaves an electronic trail, so it's stupid to think you are not going to get caught. Hope this girl makes it home safe.

• God I hope this is just another story of a child being stupid and meeting someone off of the internet but then being found before anything bad happens. Why do kids meet full grown adults off of myspace? This is probably the 5th story I've heard about this...

• This is a sad situation,I am an adult and an avid Internet user. I love surfing and visiting chat rooms. even though I always thought I could safely socialize from the comfort of my home, I realize now that there are many, persuasive, predators in any situation. Young people are very vulnerable online and can succumb to them at anytime. Bullying and rape is possible, no matter how cautious a young person is these predators, can be convincing and they know how to lure you and find you. I hope that Karina is found well. I also hope that other young people, become aware and exercise safety and caution on the Internet. Always, let someone know what is happening and whom you are chatting, or considering meeting and remember on the Internet nothing is what it may seem, even seasoned adults can fall victims to these predators.

• she must have run off. someone who knew her spotted her in sylmar. they updated the story in the link i posted saying that she's been found safe and sound, and that speculation that her disappearance may be linked to the shooting was not related. i wondered what even made them think the two were connected.

• She's my cousins close friend.. I hope they'll find her soon.

• I wonder if they turn out to be connected short haired girl? @ Jenn it's crazy because I was a teen of the mid ninties and we use to call those very same type of 1-800- numbers where the girls talk for free. If we weren't calling them at sleepovers late at night we were calling local phone booths and pranking those cause after caller id's were invented you couldn't call peoples houses. So as you said these cakes find and utilize every type of outlet available with the times. Though I never got in the situation you did, we were no doubt at risk. Parents should monitor there children because as bad as Jesse Slaughter is there is no doubt thousands more just like her.

• a more recent report says that her disappearance may be linked to a shooting that happened the same day elsewhere. the LAPD are supposed to release more information later this evening. http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-misng-teen-karina-valencia,0,4568453.story

• Sorry Mark, when I said travels, I meant on the internet. But I hear ya'. Trusting your teenager with life altering decisions all on their own, when they don't appreciate what it might mean if they make a bad decision, is not for wimps. Unfortunately Mark, there are too many kids who don't have plugged in parents who think through how to teach them good life lessons. And something I've always been terrified of, is of falling into the pit that all parents fall into: of thinking my child could not possibly do something like what we read about here. Kids can shock the hell out of you when you least expect it.

• @alexa kim, although I have the tools to track her comings and goings I am always with her so I haven't needed to. It was only two weeks ago was the first time I ever left her at home by herself. When she plays with the neighborhood kids I take my laptop out on the balcony and watch her from a distance. I have yet to let her go to anyone else's other than her mum's, or her grandparents without me tagging along as a chaperone. I have yet to let her go off anywhere alone. However, now that she has that new-found independence and is constantly asking me to let her go to the Mall or the Movies with her friends, all without me chaperoning, I'll be the first to admit that it will be difficult not to resort to doing spot checks. I suspect that the first time she is 5 minutes late returning home I very well might be in the middle of a spot check...although I would like to think that I would have the moral conviction to wait until she is at least 30 minutes late. It's hard learning to trust a teenager, especially knowing that teenagers can do some pretty stupid things. However, I know that growing up I very much appreciated the privacy my parents allowed me to have and honestly never violated that trust (well, I did once but they laughed when they found out I snuck out of the house one night to play Dungeons & Dragons). I'm willing to undergo an anxiety attack or two to give my daughter that same kind of privacy and trust. I guess I rest a little easier because my daughter has been good about coming to me when strangers try talking to her on her way to school, or on IM, or when they call her as a wrong-number and try chatting her up. After the first time it happened (there was a feature article here where I discussed when a Cop tried Sexting with my daughter), she has since handled these situation well on her own and promptly tells me about it. So, I am willing to trust in her being able to handle situations like that better than I might otherwise.

• I am karinas friend to tell the truth she always used to met guys onlune ad then went and met them in person i know she will never run away but i might be wrong who knows i just hope they find her i never thought i would be this worried of her i really hope they find her that bad thong is that i dont have her number if i had her number i didnt really talk to her but we were best friends scimce kinder but idk what hapemed i hope they find her

• Mark, I see that you are comfortable using the tools that you use. Excellent. The part that made me nervous was where you say something about knowing where your daughter has been if you ever have to tell the police. Do you never spot check on her travels? Not even sporadically? As I explained to my kid, that I spot check you doesn't mean I don't trust you, it means I don't trust who wants to meet you.

• I think having a computer your kids use in a general area where the parents are is wise. Parents have to take the time to explain to their kids that everyone is not who they say they are on the net. You can virtually be whoever you want to be and post a picture of anyone saying it's you. I also think kids should not post their picture anywhere on any public site until they are older and more mature.

• alexa I agree with you dead on-I was the same with my daughter-I'm doing things the same way as I'm helping with my step son, his mom is a poor excuse for a parent and he has no respect for her. His Dad is a quiet man and isn't quite sure how to handle him so I'm pinch hitting lol Things are working out pretty well so far...

• I have passive monitoring on my daughter's computer (IPLogs and Keylogging) even though she has never given me a reason to not trust her. Our agreement is that so long as she is trustworthy and doesn't give me a reason not to trust her any longer, then I won't violate her privacy and actively monitor the passive monitoring. I do let her use her computer unattended, but we discuss everything that she does online, and she knows better than to chat with strangers or use her webcam. However, having that passive monitoring there gives me a peace of mind because if ever she does disappear I know I can log into either her computer or mine and find anything amiss in those logs. If she arranged a hookup with someone, I know with whom and where and can worry about calling the cops when I'm already en route. (And just in case, if ever she were to decide to try to circumvent my monitoring...anticipating such I've already planned for that too and have Packet Logging at the Router too in case she ever decides to try to cover her tracks). We have the same understanding with her cellphone. I *COULD* log in to our provider's website and get every phone number and text message she has ever sent or received, and her GPS Location history, but although it is there, I *DON'T* and *WON'T* use those tools so long as she gives me no reason to no longer trust her. So, you can protect your child and respect their need for privacy. It can be done both ways. You just need to communicate with your child, and take an active interest in their interests, and give them the tools they will need to make safe decisions (and hold that Damocles Sword over their head that they are being passively monitored). However, 4 nights and 4 days away from home doesn't look good for this young girl regardless. Although her parents might be thinking "coulda, shoulda, woulda" right about now, and probably would have done things differently had they had the chance, what is done is done. At this point, all any of us can do is hope and pray that their little girl is safe and will be found.

• holy crap Jenn-I am glad it was handled at some point and that shit bag was sent away. I don't feel you or your sister caused the situation, there was an adult involved that took advantage of your sister's age. What a sick bastard.

• Jenn & John Smalls, You can't raise children in a vacuum and of course you're supposed to teach them how to navigate life's dangers. But, the internet is far more dangerous than we have given it credit for in light of how it can impact a young, developing mind. Look at the evidence we're commenting on right now. Blindly trusting a still developing human is not a wise plan. Waiting until they give us a reason not to trust them is being reactive, not proactive. I'm sorry you think I'm suggesting that they be luddites because I am not. I'm sure that is what this girl's parents did, never thinking SHE would go meet a stranger. Parents are notorious for thinking THEIR child would never X. Notorious. It has been my approach with my daughter to start her out with small access, giving her more and more as she matured and showed that she could handle it. She will not have totally unfettered access until she's about to go out and live on her own. I want to be the one to show her what kind of poison exists out there, with me at her side, so when the alarm sets in, she can ask me questions and know how to handle it. There are some truly mind-twisting, soul-rending websites out there and if you are not careful, it can slice the essence of human in two if they are not already fully formed and fully self-aware. There's all kinds of "screwed up" John Smalls, and I get to choose which kind will spare her the most misery. Being "cool" too often means doing risky behaviour just to see if you can survive it. That's the ancient part of the human brain stem talking.

• yes alexa my daughter fought with me tooth and nail so to speak on some things-but I persevered and she is a well adjusted, well rounded adult now, with great social skills as well.

• @CW, it didn't get real scary until I had to pick him out of a photo line up and give a statement to the ADA. That was scary. I really didn't understand the whole purpose of statutory rape, because I felt, at that time, that we had both (me and my sister) caused the situation and that we were going to be held responsible too. I think in the end, I was more scared that I would get grounded than I was of the perv that was in the house on that really odd night. I never even told anyone about it. My sister was the one that told someone and they ended up telling my Grandmother who called the cops. I knew I had done something wrong, and I was keeping silent. Looking back, I'm thankful that a logical adult did find out, at least that sucker (I'm being nice) went to jail.

• Good on you cw, did she appreciate it later? My kid was a bit of a hard case about it too, but she finally got used to it.

• Alexa, I guess my argument is that the ultimate thing to do is to teach your children. Teach them the threats, teach them the things that are expected of them, and most of all, teach them how to avoid dangerous situations. We have my daughter's computer locked where she can't get on it at all after 8 p.m. and every website but a few are blocked. As she gets older, I'm sure that we'll have to reduce the restrictions for research and other things that are required for school. However, I hope that my daughter will understand the dangers that are out there. If someone had taken the time to help us understand, we might not have ever gotten into that situation even though the means to do it were still available.

• Hey Alexa Kim, Why don't you trust your kids until they give you a reason not to... You get too strict with kids and when they get an ounce of freedom they GO NUTS. I've seen it. And going online without supervisor is not like playing with a loaded gun. I know you were just exaggerating to make a point, but still. Don't be one of those crazy parents with socially awkward, screwed up kids.

• alexa you are correct-my daughter and I had our go rounds more than once but even with all the "I hate you"s and such I stood my ground for her safety. hey Jenn-that is some scary shit...real scary.

• MySpace is having it's ass handed to them by Facebook. It is more attractive, however, to younger people, so who knows how long it'll hang on. I agree that where there's a will, there's a way Jenn, but the internet is like a phone on steroids.

• How many kids have to die or disappear before parents realize that letting them use the internet unsupervised is no different than letting them handle a gun, untrained and unsupervised, or watching a graphic movie alone before they're 17, or driving a car without a license before 17? I don't care how loudly your child protests any restrictions, you have to out-maneuver them and refuse to give in. Refuse.

• Mark, sadly, these things have happened long before the internet age. When we were younger, my sister and I called a singles hotline where women could talk for free. We were only 13 and 14 at the time, but we always lied and said we were over 18. My sister actually started consistently talking to a guy that was 32 and was well aware that she was only 13 and not of age. One night, I walked down stairs and he was in the living room with her and performing a sexual act on her. I won't go into details, but I was grossed out, shocked, and very, very scared. I ended up screaming and yelling until he left the house, but it could have turned out so much worse. Of course we were doing stupid things that just escalated to an even more dangerous situation, but children, are going to do dumb things, not matter their media. They will find a way.

• Why is MySpace dying? I don't use any of those social media sites, but I wasn't aware of the decline of myspace!?

• If it's not Twitter, Facebook, or Craigslist in the Mainstream Media, then dying MySpace has to get in one last gasp before they disappear! This is one of those rare situations where you actually hope she left willingly with a man she planned to meet on MySpace as if she was kidnapped her chances of still being alive would be much more grim. And this precisely why parents should take the Jessi Slaughter story more to heart and either refrain from letting their young teens use the Internet as a Social Tool, or at least monitor what they do on the Internet! I hope this girl is okay and will be found safe and unharmed. She's the same age as my daughter. I can only imagine how hysterical her parents must be right about now.

• not another one-what the hell?

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