Holga Castillo Olivares, 61, is a Teacher in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Michael Ramirez, 15, ran away from his family home in Sacramento in 2020 after an argument with his aunt and uncle over the strict rules they lived under. He then went to the home of a “former friend” and stayed there for two years, according to local broadcaster KCRA News.

The teen “inexplicably” returned to his aunt and uncle’s home in March 2022. They were shocked, but relieved, and welcomed him back. But their hearts were broken when they found out he had been living at the teacher’s house, which was nearly 20 miles away from his own.

A 61-year-old teacher from California has been arrested after she allegedly hid a missing teen for two years. She was charged with a felony of concealing a minor and a misdemeanor of luring a child out of their parents’ home without their consent.

Holga Castillo Olivares is a second-grade teacher at the Alice Birney Waldorf-Inspired K-8 School in the Sacramento City Unified School District, CBS Sacramento reports. She was arrested Thursday and will appear in court Monday.

She is facing charges for the alleged disappearance of a 15-year-old boy from Rancho Cordova, Calif. The teen was reported missing in June of 2020, and an extensive search was conducted but police couldn’t locate him.

After the investigation began, detectives were able to determine that Ramirez was staying with his aunt’s friend’s mother. That woman was Holga Olivares, 61.

During the investigation, detectives learned that she had a relationship with the missing teen and his sister. She also worked at the same school as them, the station reported.

On Thursday, she was arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Jail on charges of detention of a minor with intent to conceal from a parent(s) and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, police said in a statement. The arrest occurred after a months-long investigation.

Her attorney declined to comment.

Her employer, the school district, cited personnel issues.
The teacher was placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the district.

Katte Smith, one of Michael’s guardians, told local station KCRA that she was “shocked, heartbroken, and devastated” when she learned that the teen had been living with her for the past two years. She said she felt like she had been “robbed” of her son’s childhood.

She told the station that she had been in contact with detectives who had been searching for her nephew. She said she had been interviewed and asked if she knew where Michael was. She reportedly responded that she didn’t know where he was and didn’t tell them.

A 61-year-old teacher from Sacramento has been arrested after she allegedly hid missing teen Michael Ramirez for two years. She was charged with felony of concealing a minor and misdemeanor of luring someone out of their parents’ home without their consent. She was arrested Thursday and will appear in the Sacramento County Superior Court on Monday. She is ineligible for bail.