California Girl Missing Since 2020 Found Safe in North Carolina

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A young girl who went missing from Los Angeles County in 2020 has been found safe in North Carolina, authorities said. The 11-year-old girl was enrolled in a Washington County school under an alias when she was discovered by school resource officers on Monday. Officials believe the girl's mother, who had custody at the time, took her during a Department of Children and Family Services investigation in 2020.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges of locating missing children, especially those who may have been taken by a parent during an active child welfare investigation. It also raises questions about the resources and coordination needed between local and state authorities to find missing children across state lines.

The details

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the girl was reported missing on July 1, 2020 after her mother stopped communicating with the local child services agency during an investigation involving the child. Authorities believe the mother, who had custody at the time, took the girl. Last week, the sheriff's department received a tip that the girl might be in North Carolina, about 130 miles east of Raleigh. School resource officers in Washington County located the girl on Monday and took her into protective custody.

• The girl was reported missing from Los Angeles County on July 1, 2020.
• Last week, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department received a tip that the girl might be in North Carolina.
• On Monday, school resource officers in Washington County, North Carolina located the 11-year-old girl.

What’s next

Authorities in Los Angeles and North Carolina are coordinating to determine the next steps in the case, including potentially reuniting the girl with family members or placing her in a safe environment.