VALLEJO, Calif. — A family is still hopeful for answers three years after police say 15-year-old Pearl Pinson was kidnapped in Vallejo.
Pearl was last seen on a bridge above Highway 780 on May 25, 2016. She was on her way to school when police say she was kidnapped. The suspect in the case was involved in a shootout in Southern California and killed.
Pearl's family continues to visit the spot where she was last seen. There are several signs, messages, and flowers set up as a memorial on a fence. Pearl's sister, Rose, says she passes by the bridge almost every other day.
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"I have mixed emotions," Rose said. "I'm upset and angry because I know this is where my sister was taken from, but at the same time I'm happy because I know this is where she was last seen at."
The family believes the person who knows where Pearl is is the suspect who is now dead. However, they are hopeful for some answers with a new detective with the Solano County Sheriff's Office on the case.
"Having the new detective, it's kind of scary," Rose said. "I don't want him messing anything up, but I also have to trust him because he's new eyes on this case. He can be the one to find where she's at."
Rose says she refuses to be silent about her sister.
"I do it for my sister because, if it's not me telling her story, I don't think anybody else will be able to," Rose said.
Several of the messages for Pearl have been painted over and some of the flowers put up have been taken down. But for Rose, that means it's time to repaint and put up more items, including some she would have given to Pearl.
Pearl would've graduated from high school in 2019.
"We have a graduation teddy bear for her because she'll be graduating this year," Rose said. "So we're gonna be putting this up this year as well."
A candlelight vigil will be held at that bridge above Highway 780 Saturday night off Lewis Avenue in Vallejo. It's open for anyone who wants to come and starts at 7:30 p.m.
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