Teen Who Vanished Last Month Is Still Missing; Accused Kidnapper Was Killed by Police

Since October 20th, Massachusetts police have been searching for a missing 18-year-old girl, Jalajhia Finklea. But, the man who was last seen with her was killed by the police.

Finklea, who was pregnant at the time, was last seen getting into 37-year-old Luis Zaragoza’s car. Minutes later, according to the District Attorney’s office, Finklea’s cellphone was turned off.

Police were able to locate the phone about five miles away from where she first got into Zaragoza’s car, and authorities had been nonstop looking for him ever since.

Zaragoza, also known as, Luis Barbosa, was hard to locate, leading police to partner with U.S. Marshals. “Authorities tracked Zaragoza to Texas and then to Florida. Surveillance video in both states showed Zaragoza, but no sign of Finklea,” People reported.

On November 5th, an arrest attempt by U.S. Marshals Service Task Force was made in Crestview, Florida. Zaragoza shot a gun at them, provoking them to return fire, which led to Zaragoza’s death.

According to People, during the time of the shooting, “New Bedford Police were en route to Florida to arrest Zaragoza on kidnapping and larceny charges.”

Since Zaragoza’s death, police are once again desperate for information regarding Finklea’s disappearance. They are asking for the publics’ help. If you have any information, call the New Bedford Police Department Station 3 at 508-991-636