An 11-year-old California girl, kidnapped in 2020 at age 5, was safely located on March 10, 2026, in Washington County, North Carolina, living under an alias name enrolled in a local school. Authorities took her into protective custody after multi-agency coordination, confirming she’s now safe.
Kidnapping Background
She was last seen in Duarte, California, on June 2, 2020. Her mother reported her missing to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services the next month but then stopped communicating, leading officials to believe the mother took her.
Discovery and Next Steps
Deputies identified her through school records and worked with California and North Carolina agencies to recover her. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children had previously publicized her case. No arrests are reported, and the investigation continues. Sheriff officials called it a rare positive outcome for such an old case, crediting inter-agency teamwork.
