Pearl Pinson search shifts toward North Coast

Solano County and Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies searched the Willow Creek Road area of Jenner Friday afternoon for  missing Vallejo teen Pearl Pinson, a Solano County sheriff’s deputy said Friday afternoon.

The search is in response to information the Solano County Sheriff’s Office received during its investigation of the kidnapping of the 15-year-old from the Vallejo area on Thursday, Deputy Christine Castillo said.

Earlier today, the Santa Barbara County coroner’s office confirmed that abduction suspect Fernando Castro, 19, of Vallejo was the man who was killed in a shooting with deputies in Santa Barbara County Thursday.

Santa Barbara County sheriff’s officials said there is no indication Pinson is in Santa Barbara County.

Authorities have been searching for Pinson between Santa Barbara and Solano counties.

Castro was suspected of assaulting and abducting Pinson around 7 a.m. Wednesday and leaving in a gold 1997 Saturn.

A witness reported seeing a man with a gun pulling a female, who was bleeding and yelling for help, on the over-crossing of Interstate Highway 780 in the area of Home acres and Taylor avenues in Vallejo.

Deputies found Pinson’s cellphone in the over-crossing area, which led to her identity as the abduction victim, Castillo said.

The California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert Thursday afternoon.

Solano County sheriff’s officials said the Saturn was spotted in San Luis Obispo County and the suspect fled, leading to a pursuit that ended in the Los Alamos area of Santa Barbara County.

Castro drove into a residential area, got out of the car and ran into a nearby mobile home. A woman was inside at the time but was able to run to safety, sheriff’s officials said.

Castro then stole a truck and soon afterward fired at law enforcement officers, who returned fire and killed him.

Surveillance cameras captured the Saturn in the area of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in Marin County around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Solano County sheriff’s officials said.

Pinson, a student at Jesse Bethel High School in Vallejo, and Castro knew each other but authorities do not believe Pinson willingly went with Castro.

Pinson is white, 5 feet 3 inches with brown hair dyed green and green eyes. She has a metallic piercing below her left lower lip and was last seen wearing a gray sweater and black leggings.