Ten Years Later, Family and Friends Still Search for Pearl Pinson

More than a decade after 15-year-old Pearl Pinson was kidnapped in Vallejo on May 25, 2016, her family is still living with grief, uncertainty and hope that she may one day be found. Pearl was taken while walking to school when an armed man, later identified as 19-year-old Fernando Castro, dragged her to a waiting car at the bridge on Lewis Avenue. Castro, who had no known connection to Pearl or her family, died in a police shootout in Southern California the next day, leaving behind no answers about Pearl’s fate.

On Monday evening, Pearl’s family, friends, law enforcement officials and local leaders gathered at the bridge site to mark the 10-year anniversary of her disappearance. The emotional vigil included tears, hugs, music and shared memories of the teenager described by loved ones as funny, outspoken and full of personality. Pearl’s sister, Rose Pinson, said she still wakes up hoping the nightmare might somehow end, but after 10 years and with no remains or personal belongings recovered, the family has increasingly accepted the possibility that Pearl did not survive. Her father, James Pinson, said the anniversary remains painful and that he has learned to “just deal with it.”

Those who knew Pearl spoke about the traits they miss most: her laugh, her humor, her attitude and the loyalty she showed to friends. Several attendees said the turnout at the memorial showed that the community has not forgotten her and still wants her name to remain visible. The family has also renewed its effort to have the bridge where Pearl was kidnapped renamed in her honor or marked with memorial signage. Public interest in a renaming began years ago, but the family had initially followed the wrong process. In recent weeks, after being directed to the proper city, state and Caltrans contacts, the effort has gained momentum.

Caltrans said memorial signage for a highway structure requires state legislative action, usually through a resolution introduced by a local senator or assemblymember. The agency also noted that the honoree is typically deceased, must have a meaningful public contribution and should have a connection to the community. Because Pearl’s status remains unknown, the case is unusual, though exceptions have been made before. Vallejo Mayor Andrea Sorce said the city supports finding a meaningful memorial, whether on city property or through coordination with Caltrans, and suggested memorials on either end of the bridge may be more practical.

The Pinson family is also pushing for changes to Amber Alert procedures, saying the delay in Pearl’s case was too long. Her father said the alert was issued about 32 hours after the abduction, and Rose said law enforcement should move far faster in missing-child cases, especially when abduction is suspected. Through their grief, the family says their love for Pearl has never faded. Rose ended the vigil with a message to her sister: the family has never stopped searching, never stopped loving her, and never will.