Search Underway for Missing 10-Year-Old Girl in Tompkins County

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Authorities in Tompkins County, New York are searching for a 10-year-old girl named Joanne Washburn who was reported missing early Thursday morning. Joanne's parents told police they last saw her around 6 p.m. on Thursday, and she did not show up for school on Friday. Law enforcement agencies are actively searching the area and asking the public for any information about Joanne's whereabouts.

Why it matters

Missing child cases are always deeply concerning, as the safety and well-being of young people is of the utmost priority. This search in Tompkins County has mobilized multiple law enforcement agencies to try to locate Joanne and bring her home safely.

The details

According to the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called around 6:34 a.m. on Thursday to the 5000 block of Cold Springs Road in the Town of Ulysses for a report of a missing child. Joanne's parents said they discovered she was not in the home around 6 a.m. and the last time they saw her was around 6 p.m. the previous evening. Joanne is believed to be wearing a blue jacket and gray-and-blue boots, and may be carrying a purple backpack with yellow strings. A witness also reported possibly seeing a child matching her description walking along Trumansburg Road around 1 a.m.

• Joanne Washburn was last seen by her parents around 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, 2026.
• Joanne's parents discovered she was missing around 6 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
• Authorities were called to the scene around 6:34 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
• A witness reported possibly seeing a child matching Joanne's description walking along Trumansburg Road around 1 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026.

What’s next

Multiple law enforcement agencies are continuing to search the area for any signs of Joanne Washburn. Authorities are asking the public to contact the Tompkins County 911 Center if they have any information about her whereabouts.