Yuba City Police Department At-Risk Missing Juvenile Investigation Leads to Arrest in Kern County 

October 8, 2026 – Yuba City Police Department officials report that on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at approximately 8:35 a.m., Yuba City Police Department officers responded to the 400 block of White Rock Drive regarding a reported missing 17-year-old juvenile.

Due to the juvenile’s age, underlying medical condition, and circumstances surrounding her disappearance, she was considered missing and at risk. During the investigation, officers learned she had been communicating with 26-year-old Cameron Childers, a Texas resident who had recently traveled to Yuba City. Investigators also learned Childers had pending criminal charges in Texas involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

YCPD Detectives immediately began working to identify and locate Childers and the juvenile. Flock Safety camera technology played a significant role in the investigation, assisting detectives in identifying Childers’ vehicle and tracking its travel from the Yuba City area. Information obtained through the Flock camera network, combined with other investigative resources, ultimately helped investigators locate the suspect vehicle in the Bakersfield area.

When officers attempted to stop Childers, he fled, resulting in a vehicle pursuit through the Kern River Canyon toward the Lake Isabella area. During the pursuit, the California Highway Patrol deployed spike strips; however, Childers continued fleeing and ultimately drove the vehicle off a cliff.

Responding officers rescued the juvenile and Childers from the vehicle as it caught fire. Both sustained non-life-threatening minor to moderate injuries.

YCPD Detectives obtained a $100,000 Ramey Warrant for Childers for the following alleged offenses:

• Child abduction – 278 PC
• Aiding or encouraging suicide – 401 PC
• Contacting a minor with intent to commit a specified offense – 288.3 PC
• Contributing to the delinquency of a minor – 272 PC
• Rape by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear – 261(a)(1) PC
• Rape of a person prevented from resisting due to an intoxicating, anesthetic, or controlled substance – 261(a)(4) PC
• Kidnapping to commit another specified offense – 209(b)(1) PC

YCPD Detectives traveled to Kern County and served the Ramey Warrant on Childers. Childers was subsequently booked into the Kern County Jail on the YCPD warrant, as well as additional charges stemming from the pursuit and events that occurred in Kern County.

Because the investigation involved alleged criminal conduct occurring in both Yuba City and Kern County, YCPD Detectives coordinated with Bakersfield PD and Kern County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation was submitted to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution of the related offenses.

The Yuba City Police Department would like to thank the assisting law enforcement personnel in Kern County, the city of Bakersfield and the California Highway Patrol for their efforts in locating and safely rescuing the juvenile.

This remains an active criminal case.

All persons arrested or accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: Yuba City Police Department