Girl Missing Since 2020 Found in North Carolina Under New Name

The 11-year-old was located enrolled in a local school after nearly 6 years.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:10pm

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An 11-year-old girl who was reported missing from Duarte, California in 2020 has been found living in Washington County, North Carolina under a different name. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the child was located after investigators received new information about her possible whereabouts, leading local authorities in North Carolina to find her enrolled at a school in the area.

Why it matters

Long-term missing child cases rarely end with recoveries, especially 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.

The details

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the girl was reported missing in July 2020 when she was 5 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, but her mother, who had custody, stopped communicating with the agency, prompting officials to report the child missing. Investigators received new information on Friday indicating the girl might be in North Carolina, leading the Washington County Sheriff's Office to locate her enrolled at a local school under a different name.

  • The girl was reported missing in July 2020 when she was 5 years old.
  • Authorities received new information on Friday about the girl's possible location in North Carolina.

The players

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD)

The law enforcement agency that reported the girl missing and worked with authorities in North Carolina to locate her.

Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

The agency that had an open investigation involving the child and contacted the sheriff's department about her disappearance.

Washington County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency in North Carolina that conducted the follow-up investigation and located the child enrolled at a local school under a different name.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Washington County Sheriff's Department

“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.”

— DCFS

What’s 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.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges and complexities of long-term missing child cases, as well as the importance of interagency cooperation and persistence in pursuing leads, even years after a disappearance. The recovery of this child, while uncommon, demonstrates that positive outcomes are possible with dedicated investigative work.