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Authorities Still Stumped In Search For Abducted Vallejo Teen

VALLEJO (CBS SF) -- Solano County sheriff's deputies are still trying to establish a timeline that will help find missing 15-year-old Pearl Pinson of Vallejo.

The sheriff's office has asked for the public's help in determining where Pearl's alleged abductor, 19-year-old Fernando Castro, drove a gold Saturn after leaving Vallejo with her on Wednesday.

A witness reported seeing a Hispanic male dragging Pearl, who was bleeding and screaming for help, on an Interstate Highway 780 over-crossing in Vallejo around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Traffic cameras recorded the 1997 Saturn Thursday in Marin County on westbound Interstate Highway 580 at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge at 9:13 a.m., near Sir Francis Drake Boulevard at 9:20 a.m. and southbound U.S. Highway 101 at the Golden Gate Bridge at 9:35 a.m.

Castro drove to Santa Barbara County and stole a Toyota truck in a mobile home park in the Solvang area Thursday. He fired at sheriff's deputies and was killed in a shootout, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

Solano County sheriff's Deputy Christine Castillo said today that information from Castro's cellphone and a search of the Saturn led investigators to look for Pearl in the Jenner area of Sonoma County on Friday through Saturday afternoon.

Solano County's Office of Emergency Services' search and rescue team also searched the Glen Cove coastline in Vallejo, an open field and stream near the abduction site at the Highway 780 pedestrian over-crossing in Vallejo and state Highway 37 between Vallejo and Sonoma County, including Skaggs Island.

Solano County sheriff's officials are asking Bay Area businesses to check their surveillance cameras' video for any sign of the Saturn between 7 a.m. Wednesday to 9:15 a.m. Thursday.

Investigators Tuesday also released a photo of Castro's Saturn with distinctive stickers, as well as one of a black and turquoise backpack similar to the one Pearl had when she disappeared.

Pearl Pinson backpack
backpack similar to one worn by Pearl Pinson when she disappeared (Solano County Sheriff's Dept.)

Pearl is a white girl who is 5 feet 3 inches tall, 130 pounds with brown hair dyed green and green eyes. She has a metal piercing below her lower lip and was last seen wearing a gray sweater and black leggings.

The sheriff's office's tip line is (707) 784-1963, and anyone with urgent information should call (707) 421-7090 or 911.

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