Her family last saw Scarlibeth Garcia Montes with her father, Oscar Garcia, on September 11, 2025. Her mother says she saw them just before 6 a.m., but then they seemingly vanished. Police in Dayton, Ohio, began the search for 9-year-old Scarlibeth and her 28-year-old father. They found some clues along the way, but no one had seen them.
Dayton Police & Fire posted a missing person flyer on September 12, asking for help in locating Scarlibeth and Garcia. Police confirmed Scarlibeth’s mom is the one who called for help. We can’t even imagine her fears. Police first found the family’s car near a Code Credit Union at 335 W. Monument Ave., but what they later found by the bank of the Great Miami River left a pit in our stomachs.
“The child’s shoes, socks, keys, a tablet, and cell phone were located near the river,” police noted in the flyer.
According to police, in addition to local officers, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Fire Department dive team, Piqua Fire Department dive team, Five Rivers MetroParks rangers, Huber Heights Police Division, and Texas EquuSearch all responded to calls for help with the search.
Immediately, people began commenting on social media with prayers and hopes that Scarlibeth and her dad would make it home soon.
The Dayton Police Department is asking for help locating two people, a child and an adult male.
— Dayton Police Dept. (@DaytonPolice) September 12, 2025
Scarlibeth and Oscar were last seen around 5:45 a.m. on September 11, 2025, according to Scarlibeth’s mother.
Any information please call 937-333-2677. pic.twitter.com/7xfVD8gL97
Tragically, that wasn’t the case. The Dayton Daily News reported that someone called 911 on September 15, around 1:20 p.m.
“I’m walking across the bridge and I’m looking out at the water, and I do believe it’s a body right here,” the caller told dispatchers.
Of course, everyone held out hope that this story would have a happy ending, but instead, police found both Scarlibeth and her father dead in the river.
“The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death. The Dayton Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating,” police shared September 16 on Facebook. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Garcia family and ask the community to keep them in their thoughts and respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
We cannot imagine the grief their families must be feeling. Hopefully, they will find peace during this tremendously difficult time.
