April 18, 2025 | Houston, TX
A California teenager who had been missing for nearly a year was found safe in a vacant home in Harris County, Texas, and the man she was reportedly with is now facing serious charges.
The 15-year-old girl from Sacramento had vanished in May 2024. After months of searching, law enforcement officials discovered her earlier this month in a Houston-area home with 28-year-old Tarik Exavier Jammer. He has since been charged with sexual performance of a child and is being held in the Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
According to investigators, the teen met Jammer through an online video game when she was just 14 years old. Their relationship evolved into private messaging, which led to her leaving California and flying to Texas, where Jammer allegedly picked her up at the airport.
The girl was reportedly living in a vacant property with Jammer at the time of her discovery. Authorities have issued a protective order to prevent any further contact between the two.
“This case underscores the dangers children can face online,” said Sgt. Amar Gandhi of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. “Parents need to be vigilant—check your kids’ devices, know who they’re talking to, and report anything suspicious.”
In addition to the arrest, the case has prompted public concern over the handling of missing persons alerts. The teenager initially did not receive an Ebony Alert—a new California alert system designed to help locate missing Black youth—even though she met the age requirements. Community leaders criticized the delay, and the alert was only issued two months after her disappearance.
“She was eligible. It should’ve gone out immediately,” said community advocate Berry Accius. “This needs to be a wake-up call.”
The teen has been placed in a safe facility and is expected to be reunited with her family in California soon. Meanwhile, the investigation continues, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.