An 11‑year‑old girl who was reported missing from the Los Angeles County community of Duarte nearly six years ago has been located in North Carolina.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) said the child was found after investigators received information suggesting she may be living in Washington County, North Carolina. Local authorities there subsequently located the girl enrolled at a school under an alias, according to the sheriff’s department.
The child has been taken into protective custody. Authorities said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance remains ongoing.
Why It Matters
Long‑term missing‑child cases rarely end with recoveries, particularly years after a disappearance. Authorities described the girl’s recovery as an uncommon and positive outcome.
Cases involving young children are also highly sensitive, with officials limited in what they can publicly disclose due to confidentiality laws and the child’s age.
What To Know
According to LASD, the girl was reported missing in July 2020, when she was five years old, after the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) contacted the sheriff’s department with concerns about her whereabouts.
At the time, DCFS had an open investigation involving the child.
Authorities said the girl’s mother, who had custody, stopped communicating with the agency, prompting officials to report the child missing.
LASD said investigators received new information on Friday indicating the girl might be in North Carolina. Detectives contacted the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which conducted a follow‑up investigation and located the child enrolled at a local school under a different name.
What People Are Saying
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement: “These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this, but it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation, stories with positive outcomes like these can happen.”
In a statement, the DCFS said: “While we understand the public’s interest in children from the community who may have received supportive services from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), state law prohibits us from commenting on our possible involvement with families. Confidentiality laws protect those who may have come into contact with our department from emotional distress and stigmatization while complex family issues are resolved.”
What Happens Next
Authorities said the child remains in protective custody while the investigation continues. LASD is working with DCFS and law‑enforcement agencies in North Carolina to determine the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance and recovery.
Officials are also attempting to determine whether the girl still has family connections in the Duarte area.
No arrests or charges have been announced, and authorities said further details are being withheld due to the child’s age and the ongoing investigation.
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