Tracy, California Police Seek Location of 8-Year Old Sandra Cantu (UPDATE)

Police in Tracy, California continue to search for eight-year old Sandra Cantu who was last seen on March 27th, 2009 around 4:00 p.m. Sandra was observed walking near her home at the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park in Tracy.

Sandra was last seen wearing a pink pink "Hello Kitty" shirt and black leggings.

She is Hispanic, four feet” tall and weights approximately 45 pounds. She has light brown or brown hair and brown eyes.

Sgt Luis Mejia with Tracy Police in California, says there isn't anything new to report at this time.

He told us that they're just asking that anybody who has information please call their tip line at 209 831-6847. Of course if anyone believes they have seen the girl, they may want to dial 911.

He says the fact that Sandra Cantu remains missing, means she could be anywhere, including other states like Oregon.

"Oh absolutely, we are constantly asking for the public's help and if they have seen anything, we want to know about it." He emphasized that they are following all leads they come into contact with.

A large number of searchers have been combing through the area where Sandra was last seen. They reportedly have talked to at least two sex offenders who live in the area.

"We're looking for evidence that will lead to the discovery of Sandra's whereabouts," Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman told CNN Monday night. "We operate on the assumption she is alive and well."

Sandra apparently visited the home of a friend, and was then recorded by a surveillance camera as she played in the park.

Her parents reported her missing about 8:00 p.m. Friday, after they learned she was not at the home of a friend she was supposed to visit.

"We just know that she had gone to the first house, and played for just a very short time. And then she was on her way to another friend's house," family spokesperson Lisa Encarnacion said.

Police say anyone with information should call the Tracy Police Department at 209-831-4550 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

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Steve November 26, 2017 6:45 am (Pacific time)

So have they found her or is she still being gangraped 20 times each day?
UPDATE: salem-news.com/articles/april072009/cantu_sandra-4-7--09.php

kaitlyn May 16, 2009 7:12 pm (Pacific time)

hi i jest went to Sandra's gravd thars a lot of stuft.i think that she is cute!

Cicely April 18, 2009 8:01 pm (Pacific time)

That is so sad and horrible. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. I am curious as to the evidence that the police have that determined that Huckaby did it. How was she able to lift the suitcase and throw it in the pond without help AND without being seen? Just can't imagine a woman doing something like that to a child.

davis April 17, 2009 3:30 pm (Pacific time)

you know that huckabys lawyer wants to do hes own autopsey on sandra is there a way we can help the family and start a pettion to stop this so sandra can finially rest in peace poor little angel

Anonymous April 17, 2009 1:12 pm (Pacific time)

My heart goes out to the family of Sandra Cantu. I am deeply sorry for your loss and I hope Ms. Huckaby is punished to the maximum.

meagen April 17, 2009 5:21 am (Pacific time)

does anyone know if sandra was cemated or buried?i read that she is at the tracy mosuluem but i heard they do cremations there.is she in a wall there.i couldnt make it to her services.but i do have family in a near by town im gonna go visit and when i am there i want to pay my repsects to her.it was way too soon for this angel princess to go and leav this earth.8 years.and 8 years go by quick.one minute she was born and was in her mothers arms cooing and smilling and next she had just turned 8 and blowing out her last candel.how sad.my prayers are with the family i am so sorry for ur loss

erika s0lano April 16, 2009 11:41 am (Pacific time)

hEY BABY GURL I NEVER MET U BUT IM REALLY ANGRY AND SAD 4 WAT HAPPEN 2 U...IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD HAVE D0NE 2 SAFE UR LIFE I WOULD HAVE DONE IT...RIP SANDRA WE LOVE U AND MISS U.

Anonymous April 11, 2009 12:18 pm (Pacific time)

hey i have been watching the video over and over have the cantu police noticed that sandra is carrying a black purseon her right side...........

Daniel April 11, 2009 9:06 am (Pacific time)

It turns out the monster is the sunday school teacher daughter of the paster !

TiTiNa April 8, 2009 8:59 pm (Pacific time)

♥ R.I.P baby girl for now quietly u can rest. wit no more pay... will miss u c u soon..

angie April 8, 2009 10:32 am (Pacific time)

we miss you sandra cantu i need ever met you but hear about you i live in pittsburg cal is most about 45 mint to you house one day if can go vist you in cemetary i would bring flowers and bloon ok bye

Marialena April 8, 2009 8:18 pm (Pacific time)

R.I.P Sandra we will always keep in our prayers.. No matter what and who ever did that I hope they go jump of a bridge and DIE! or they could be I prison and I wont feel bad. (See you in Heaven soon :] )

~cela April 8, 2009 10:19 am (Pacific time)

i am in high school, and when i heard ab0ut this st0ry i c0uldnt picture h0w much the m0thers pain is. i have to0 lil sisters and the y0ugest is 10. i do not know what i w0uld d0 if my lil sister went missing and f0und dead in such a ugly. i cant beleive people are so ugly i h0pe this pers0n r0ts in hell. why? and wh0 would do this. i just want to0 say i n0e tracy lil angel sandra is with 0ur l0rd jesus christ. just pray f0r her family. G0d bless the m0ther ~cela from m0dest0.

kathy April 8, 2009 7:28 am (Pacific time)

i agree the tracy police never put a amber alert on this. i put partial blame on the police and nowadays they do whatever they like, they could have searched each mobile home

Anonymous April 7, 2009 11:00 pm (Pacific time)

i was devistated when i got a fwd txt msg on my fone when i heard the news..im so sorry for the family that has to deal with this...hang in there and remember she will always love you....i hope that the ppl that did this to your little girl burns in hell for the rest of their life......(R.I.P Sandra)

anonymous April 7, 2009 3:37 pm (Pacific time)

OMG that poor family im soo sory for your loss no one should ever have to feel that kind of pain or hurt ican only imagine what that family is going through im praying for you please try to stay strong

anonymous April 7, 2009 2:57 pm (Pacific time)

i am so deeply sorry about the death of sandra.rest in peace lil sandra a.k.a lil angel!!

Me April 7, 2009 12:23 am (Pacific time)

Sandra Cantu was found. Please google the story. My condolences.

=[ April 6, 2009 11:25 pm (Pacific time)

Rip sandra cantu

ami April 7, 2009 1:27 pm (Pacific time)

that person who keeps saying creepy stuff should be reported and...

Editor: Don't try to intervene; this is a tricky business and we sometimes are the only link people are willing to use. Seriously, you are not helping.

Anonymous April 7, 2009 1:12 pm (Pacific time)

mandatory death penalty for sex offenders its just that simple

Concerned mother April 7, 2009 12:22 pm (Pacific time)

I am very angry about the way the Tracy police handled her case! They should have sent out an Amber Alert just in case she was kidnapped!!!! If they found out later she wandered off than fine, but what would it have hurt you idiots? There needs to be a law that when a child is missing it should be treated as an abduction until proven other wise! They should have searched the homes of all 80 registered sex offenders in her immediate area immediately! Instead they wasted precious time while she was probably alive. Police shouldn't need a warrant to search peoples homes when a child is missing! They should have been able to immediately search all of the homes in her trailer park too. They weren't aggresive enough with this case! I am so upset, she reminds me of my own daughter. I watched the video on the news of her skipping around playing and she just reminded me so much of my own precious daughter and I am so sad for her family. Keep your children close people there are predators out there.

Anonymous April 7, 2009 12:20 pm (Pacific time)

i know who killed her

Editor: You know you place us in an uncomfortable position; you have left many comments on this story and that is fine, but if you know something will you please call the police and tell them? Or, send me an email and tell me a name and I will give it to the police for you: tim@salem-news.com. They also have anymomous tip lines. Please don't write cryptic things like this, it creeps us out. Tell somebody what you know.

Larry Cote April 7, 2009 12:14 pm (Pacific time)

Me and my family here in Portland Maine want to send our deepest condolences out to the Family and friends of little Sandra. My fiance' awoke this morning to the news and cried so hard. You all will be in our prayers forever. Love the Cote Family

anonnomys April 7, 2009 9:04 am (Pacific time)

sandra was found in a pond...my family is praying for sandra and sandra's family.. r.i.p babby girl

Judy in Texas April 7, 2009 3:22 am (Pacific time)

This is so sad. I can only imagine the pain her parents and loved ones are feeling right now. My sympathies

Anonymous April 6, 2009 9:56 pm (Pacific time)

i am sadley to report that the body of sandra was found in a suitcase inside of a pond near her home....rip little angel......

THE RUIZ FAMILY April 6, 2009 8:06 pm (Pacific time)

HOPE YOU FIND YOUR LITTLE GIRL SOON WE WILL PRAY TO COME BACK SAFE AND SOON BECAUSE WE KNOW THE STING OF PAIN TOOOOOO

The Casas Family April 5, 2009 4:21 pm (Pacific time)

We will keep her in our prayers...it seems like the search dogs would pick up a scent to determine which way she went and whether a neighbor took her....

Anonymous April 4, 2009 6:53 pm (Pacific time)

why is sandra hair dark in one picture and light in another?was this all planed.was her hair dyed to disquise her.?somethig isnt right.....

Editor: Kids like adults sometimes change hair color, there's no mystery in that. These are the photos of her that her family released.

Anonymous April 4, 2009 6:48 pm (Pacific time)

u can simply see in the video that sandra wasnt equipped to run to mexico on her own.they need to see what offenders live out of range of theses cameras and go by that.and to see if any cars or what cars pass shortly after sandra disapears and time how long that car is gone and what time it comes back into the park.this is too strange.is it possible that haleigh and sandra are connected.this is terrible.whats going on.why are so many children are being kidnapped this year?i really hpe they find this girl.and why hasnt there been a amber alert.?u can simply see she didnt run away.

Anonymous April 4, 2009 6:39 pm (Pacific time)

isnt the desert were samantha runinon and dniel vandamm were dumped?

anonymous April 4, 2009 5:02 pm (Pacific time)

I don't understand why the police aren't using a trained police dog to pick up her scent. My uncle has a police dog that is very helpful to him.

hmmmm April 4, 2009 3:10 pm (Pacific time)

shes in a desert somewere in california

Editor: Can you please tell us more? Thanks.

Tina Norvell April 3, 2009 9:01 am (Pacific time)

my husband and I have an eight year old daughter your pain must be unbearable our thoughts and prayers are with you

stephanie April 3, 2009 8:54 pm (Pacific time)

I really hope they find Sandra. I live in tracy and its sooo sad that a poor 8 year old gril is missing in the little city we live in.Tracy was never like this i reallly hope they find her.

Jovana April 3, 2009 4:13 pm (Pacific time)

Parents have deffinately to take responsibility for this situation, criminals dont have feelings and cants judge bad or good things, parents cant let 8-year old child walking unprotective, world is too dangerous, unfortunally

Sansy April 3, 2009 3:46 pm (Pacific time)

i hope they find here i really want here to come home, this is just soo sad

THE ESPINOZA FAMILY April 3, 2009 3:12 pm (Pacific time)

GOD is good.we will pray for you and your family.also we will go out everyday and search for your little girl.

Tina Norvell April 3, 2009 9:03 am (Pacific time)

my husband and I have an eight year old daughter your pain must be unbearable our thoughts and prayers are with you

David Lake April 2, 2009 1:36 pm (Pacific time)

I really hope she is found safe and sound--and soon. All you parents, you can let your 8-year olds out unsupervised walking to multiple friends houses. Children that age need an adult watching them all the time.

Anonymous April 2, 2009 1:34 pm (Pacific time)

I hope she is found safe. This is horrible news. Parents, you need to have better common sense than letting your 8-year old walk alone to multiple friend's houses. I would never let my 9-year old boy walk off to a friends house without my supervision.

Rachel Doran April 1, 2009 6:09 pm (Pacific time)

Our family is praying for Sandra's safe return home! Who ever reads this note go and help find her. for the parents do not be worried God will protect her! Love, Doran family.

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