A 13-year-old girl from Keithville, Louisiana, has been reported missing, prompting authorities to issue both a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory and an Amber Alert that has crossed state lines into Texas.
The case has drawn attention from law enforcement agencies in multiple states as investigators work urgently to locate the teenager.
Merlin Chirinos Argueta, described as a Hispanic girl with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 110 pounds, was reported missing from her home on Bain Boulevard in Keithville on the morning of Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Her family or household members noticed she was gone at around 6:30 a.m., and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) eventually reached out to Louisiana State Police, who received the request to issue a formal advisory at approximately 11:23 a.m.
Suspect Identified, Vehicle Located Near Allen, Texas
Authorities believe Merlin may not be alone. Investigators have identified 18-year-old Daniel Osan Vasquez Mejia as a person of interest and suspect in the case.
A white Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban bearing Texas license plate VML 6061 was spotted in the area around the time Merlin disappeared from her Keithville home.
As the day progressed, law enforcement tracked the trail of the vehicle into Texas, where Merlin was last reported seen near Allen, a city in Collin County just north of Dallas, at approximately 7:10 p.m. on May 7.
The Amber Alert, which was issued out of Texas on Thursday evening, included a description of both Merlin and Mejia, as well as the suspect vehicle.
Residents across the Dallas-Fort Worth area and surrounding regions received emergency notifications on their phones urging them to be on the lookout.
The WFAA and FOX 4 news stations in the Dallas area quickly picked up the story, helping spread the information to a wider audience throughout the evening.
Community Urged to Come Forward With Information
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation and is asking anyone who may have seen Merlin, Daniel Mejia, or the white Chevrolet to contact them immediately.
Tips can be submitted to the CPSO directly at 318-675-2170, or people can dial 911 if they spot the child or the vehicle in person. Officials have stressed that time is of the essence in cases involving missing minors, particularly when an older suspect is believed to be involved.
The issuance of a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory by the Louisiana State Police signals that investigators believe the child is at significant risk.
When cases meet additional federal criteria, such as confirmation of abduction and availability of suspect information, an Amber Alert is triggered to maximize public awareness across a wider area, as happened in this situation.
As of the time of these reports, Merlin had not been located. Law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Louisiana-Texas border remain actively engaged in the search.
Parents, school communities, and neighbors in the Keithville area have been urged to share the alert information widely on social media and within their networks to help bring Merlin home safely.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to call 911 immediately.
