Topline: Authorities say a girl abducted from California in 2020 has been located nearly 3,000 miles away in North Carolina after a tip led investigators to a child enrolled in school under a false name.
Published: March 12, 2026 8:44 am ET
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Photos via National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
PLYMOUTH, NC — A girl who was kidnapped from California in 2020 when she was just 5 years old has been found safe more than 2,600 miles away in eastern North Carolina, authorities said.
Deputies in Washington County located the now-11-year-old on March 10 after investigators in California alerted local authorities that the missing child might be living in the area, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said the girl had been attending school under an alias before she was identified and taken into protective custody.
The child has been identified as Karen Rojas, according to WCTI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators say she was last seen on June 2, 2020, in Duarte, California, when she disappeared at age 5.
Lt. David Kearney, a detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, said the tip indicated Rojas was living with her mother and enrolled in a local school under an alias.
“I met with my detective here and they forwarded that information to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office,” Kearney said, according to WCTI.
Investigators in North Carolina began reviewing records and coordinating with school officials to confirm the information, Washington County Sheriff Arlo Norman said.
“Researching the records that we had available to us and talking to some of the school faculty, then waiting until Tuesday to confirm it,” Norman said.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said deputies determined the child had been enrolled in Washington County Schools under a different name. Sgt. Quintana, along with school resource officers Tate and Scolaro, ultimately located the girl and took her into protective custody.
“After working in combination with multiple agencies from NC to California the child was taken into protective custody, and is SAFE!” the sheriff’s office said in a March 10 news release.
Authorities say Rojas was originally reported kidnapped on June 2, 2020, from Duarte, California, a city about 20 miles northeast of Los Angeles, ABC7 learned.
The case had gone cold for years before the recent tip surfaced, according to WCTI.
Kearney said Rojas’ mother had custody of her at the time but was under investigation by child welfare officials in Los Angeles in 2020. Investigators believe the mother may have fled California out of fear the child would be removed from her care, the station reported.
Officials said the girl’s mother is now in custody, though authorities say she has not been charged at this time.
The child is currently safe and in protective custody as the investigation continues. A representative from Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services is expected to travel to North Carolina as authorities determine the next steps in the case.
Law enforcement officials described the recovery as an uncommon resolution to an older missing child investigation.
“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,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Officials said no further details are being released because of the child’s age and the ongoing investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Girl Kidnapped in California in 2020 Found Alive Using Alias in North Carolina
Authorities say a girl abducted from California in 2020 has been located nearly 3,000 miles away in North Carolina after a tip led investigators to a child enrolled in school under a false name.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 12, 2026 8:44 am ET
Photos via National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
PLYMOUTH, NC — A girl who was kidnapped from California in 2020 when she was just 5 years old has been found safe more than 2,600 miles away in eastern North Carolina, authorities said.
Deputies in Washington County located the now-11-year-old on March 10 after investigators in California alerted local authorities that the missing child might be living in the area, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said the girl had been attending school under an alias before she was identified and taken into protective custody.
The child has been identified as Karen Rojas, according to WCTI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators say she was last seen on June 2, 2020, in Duarte, California, when she disappeared at age 5.
Lt. David Kearney, a detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, said the tip indicated Rojas was living with her mother and enrolled in a local school under an alias.
“I met with my detective here and they forwarded that information to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office,” Kearney said, according to WCTI.
Investigators in North Carolina began reviewing records and coordinating with school officials to confirm the information, Washington County Sheriff Arlo Norman said.
“Researching the records that we had available to us and talking to some of the school faculty, then waiting until Tuesday to confirm it,” Norman said.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said deputies determined the child had been enrolled in Washington County Schools under a different name. Sgt. Quintana, along with school resource officers Tate and Scolaro, ultimately located the girl and took her into protective custody.
“After working in combination with multiple agencies from NC to California the child was taken into protective custody, and is SAFE!” the sheriff’s office said in a March 10 news release.
Authorities say Rojas was originally reported kidnapped on June 2, 2020, from Duarte, California, a city about 20 miles northeast of Los Angeles, ABC7 learned.
The case had gone cold for years before the recent tip surfaced, according to WCTI.
Kearney said Rojas’ mother had custody of her at the time but was under investigation by child welfare officials in Los Angeles in 2020. Investigators believe the mother may have fled California out of fear the child would be removed from her care, the station reported.
Officials said the girl’s mother is now in custody, though authorities say she has not been charged at this time.
The child is currently safe and in protective custody as the investigation continues. A representative from Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services is expected to travel to North Carolina as authorities determine the next steps in the case.
Law enforcement officials described the recovery as an uncommon resolution to an older missing child investigation.
“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,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Officials said no further details are being released because of the child’s age and the ongoing investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Girl Kidnapped in California in 2020 Found Alive Using Alias in North Carolina
Authorities say a girl abducted from California in 2020 has been located nearly 3,000 miles away in North Carolina after a tip led investigators to a child enrolled in school under a false name.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 12, 2026 8:44 am ET
Photos via National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
PLYMOUTH, NC — A girl who was kidnapped from California in 2020 when she was just 5 years old has been found safe more than 2,600 miles away in eastern North Carolina, authorities said.
Deputies in Washington County located the now-11-year-old on March 10 after investigators in California alerted local authorities that the missing child might be living in the area, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said the girl had been attending school under an alias before she was identified and taken into protective custody.
The child has been identified as Karen Rojas, according to WCTI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Investigators say she was last seen on June 2, 2020, in Duarte, California, when she disappeared at age 5.
Lt. David Kearney, a detective with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, said the tip indicated Rojas was living with her mother and enrolled in a local school under an alias.
“I met with my detective here and they forwarded that information to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office,” Kearney said, according to WCTI.
Investigators in North Carolina began reviewing records and coordinating with school officials to confirm the information, Washington County Sheriff Arlo Norman said.
“Researching the records that we had available to us and talking to some of the school faculty, then waiting until Tuesday to confirm it,” Norman said.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said deputies determined the child had been enrolled in Washington County Schools under a different name. Sgt. Quintana, along with school resource officers Tate and Scolaro, ultimately located the girl and took her into protective custody.
“After working in combination with multiple agencies from NC to California the child was taken into protective custody, and is SAFE!” the sheriff’s office said in a March 10 news release.
Authorities say Rojas was originally reported kidnapped on June 2, 2020, from Duarte, California, a city about 20 miles northeast of Los Angeles, ABC7 learned.
The case had gone cold for years before the recent tip surfaced, according to WCTI.
Kearney said Rojas’ mother had custody of her at the time but was under investigation by child welfare officials in Los Angeles in 2020. Investigators believe the mother may have fled California out of fear the child would be removed from her care, the station reported.
Officials said the girl’s mother is now in custody, though authorities say she has not been charged at this time.
The child is currently safe and in protective custody as the investigation continues. A representative from Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services is expected to travel to North Carolina as authorities determine the next steps in the case.
Law enforcement officials described the recovery as an uncommon resolution to an older missing child investigation.
“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,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Officials said no further details are being released because of the child’s age and the ongoing investigation.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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