March 12, 2022 - Merced – The Merced Police Department reports on Friday, March 11, 2022 at approximately 8:40 A.M., the Merced Police Department received a request for assistance from Hayward Police Detectives who were investigating the disappearance of 8-year-old Sophia Mason. Hayward Police Detectives received information about a possible address where Sophia Mason was last seen in the city of Merced.

Merced Police Detectives authored a search warrant for a residence in the 500 block of Barclay Way in the city of Merced. A deceased child was found in the residence during the service of the search warrant. Detectives and crime scene investigators processed the scene and conducted a thorough canvass of the area for witnesses and additional information.

This investigation is still in its early stages and the exact circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation. The Merced County Coroner’s Office is working to positively identify the child.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Detective John Pinnegar at (209)388-7712 or by email at pinnegarj@cityofmerced.org.

Case Number: 22-14506

Other ways to contact us or report crime include:

For any emergency call or text 911

For non-emergency call 209-385-6912

Anonymous Tip Line (Non-emergency) call 209-385-4725

Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html

Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police
Source: Merced Police Department