Merlin Pineda, a 13-year-old girl, was reported missing on April 1, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. She was last seen near Soccer Zone in Dallas, where she had been dropped off at a park. Her disappearance was officially recorded by the Dallas Police Department, and a case was created on April 7, 2025.
Initially, Merlin's mother, Floridalma Damian, dropped her off at Thomas C.
Marsh Prep Academy, but later received a message from the school stating that her daughter never arrived for class. Concerned, Damian contacted the police, but was informed that an Amber Alert could not be issued as the case did not meet the criteria. She expressed frustration over the delayed response from law enforcement, stating that she felt her concerns were not taken seriously.
Community members, including those from LULAC, stepped in to assist with the search, urging the police to take action. It was not until eight days after her disappearance that the police began actively searching Crown Park, an area where Merlin was suspected to have been.
On April 8, 2025, Merlin was found alive after a televiewer recognized her and alerted her family. She was discovered near Harry Hines Boulevard and Lombardy Lane, in the company of two men and a woman. Her family arrived at the scene before the police and had to insist that she be returned to them. Her father, Victor Pineda, suspected that she had been drugged, as she appeared to be in poor condition. She was subsequently taken to Children’s Medical Center for evaluation.
The case has raised concerns about the handling of missing child reports and the responsiveness of law enforcement. Merlin’s family continues to demand justice and accountability for the delays in her recovery.Last Seen: Apr 1, 2025
