California Girl Kidnapped in 2020 is Found Safe in North Carolina After Six Years

Girl Found Safe After Nearly Six Years of Disappearance

Los Angeles – An 11-year-old girl, identified as Karen Rojas, has been recovered safely in North Carolina after being abducted nearly six years ago from Duarte, California.

The child was discovered on March 10, 2026, by deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, following a tip from Los Angeles authorities. Karen, who was just five years old at the time of her abduction, had been living under an alias while enrolled in a local school.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that Karen’s mother, who had custody, ceased communication with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) during an active investigation and is believed to have taken the child.

Authorities have yet to announce any arrests or charges related to the case, and it remains unclear how long Karen had been in North Carolina or who she was living with when located. Due to the sensitivity surrounding the case and the child’s age, officials are withholding her name from public updates and have not disclosed the alias she was using.

The timeline of key events is as follows:

• June 2, 2020: Karen is kidnapped from Duarte.
• July 1, 2020: LA County DCFS officially reports her missing to the Temple Station Sheriff’s Department.
• March 6, 2026: Temple Station detectives receive information indicating the child is in North Carolina.
• March 10, 2026: Washington County deputies confirm Karen’s enrollment in school under an alias and take her into protective custody.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office highlighted the positive outcome, noting, "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." They affirmed that the child "is SAFE!"

Moving forward, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department will continue collaborating with DCFS and North Carolina authorities as the investigation proceeds, with privacy for the child remaining a priority. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.