On February 7, 2025, the Kennett Square Police Department took a report of the ongoing sexual assault of a mentally disabled female adult in the 700 block of South Washington Street after she disclosed the abuse to a caretaker. The criminal investigative division determined that the female victim had been sexually assaulted for over four years by a male family acquaintance, Gilberto Juarez-Mercado. Juarez-Mercado has been known as Gilberto Juarez, or Gilberto Mercado, in his various social or professional capacities. 

It is believed that Gilberto Juarez-Mercado fled the Kennett Square area before the incident was reported to police. Efforts by the police to locate him have been unsuccessful. 

Anyone with information on the current location of Juarez-Mercado is asked to contact Sgt. Christopher Gravina at 610-444-0501, through email at tips@kennettsquarepolice.org, or through our Submit a Tip website link.