A child who was reported missing in Southern California in 2020 has been located safe nearly six years later after authorities followed a tip that led them to another state. Law enforcement officials say the case highlights the importance of long-term investigations and cooperation between multiple agencies in missing child cases.
The child, identified by national missing persons organizations as Karen Rojas, was reported missing from the city of Duarte on June 2, 2020. At the time, she was five years old.
According to authorities, the case remained unresolved for several years before new information led investigators to locate the girl more than 2,600 miles away in the eastern United States. Officials confirmed that the child was found alive and placed into protective care while the investigation continues.
Initial Missing Person Investigation
The disappearance was first reported after concerns about the child’s welfare were raised during an ongoing case handled by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Officials from the agency contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department when they were unable to maintain communication regarding the child’s situation. Authorities later reported that the girl was believed to have been with her mother at the time of the disappearance.
Once the case was formally reported, law enforcement agencies began searching for information about the child’s whereabouts. Investigators also entered her information into national missing persons databases to help expand the search.
Organizations dedicated to protecting children frequently collaborate with local authorities in such cases. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children added the child’s information to its database and worked to raise public awareness.
Public Awareness Efforts
Over the years, missing child cases often rely on public attention to generate leads. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regularly distributes photographs and case details to media outlets and law enforcement agencies across the country.
In December 2025, the organization released an age-progressed image intended to show how the missing child might appear several years after her disappearance. Age-progression images are commonly used in long-term cases to help the public recognize children who may have changed significantly as they grow older.
These images are created using forensic and digital techniques that estimate how a person’s facial features may develop over time. The goal is to encourage new tips that might help investigators locate the missing individual.
Despite these efforts, the case remained unsolved for several years.
Breakthrough Tip in Another State
The investigation took a significant turn when law enforcement received a tip suggesting the missing child might be living in Washington County, North Carolina.
After reviewing the information, investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department contacted authorities in North Carolina to request assistance in following up on the lead.
Local officials from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office began looking into the report. During their investigation, deputies discovered that a child believed to match the missing girl’s description had been enrolled in the local school system.
Authorities later reported that the child was attending school under a different name.
Child Located and Taken Into Protective Custody
Following the discovery, deputies located the child and confirmed her identity through investigative procedures. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced that the girl had been safely recovered.
Officials said the child, who is now 11 years old, was placed into protective custody while authorities worked to ensure her well-being and determine the next steps in the case.
In public statements, law enforcement agencies noted that outcomes like this are uncommon in older missing child cases but demonstrate the importance of continued investigation and interagency collaboration.
Missing child cases can remain active for many years, and investigators often rely on cooperation between jurisdictions to locate individuals who may have moved across state lines.
Role of Interagency Cooperation
The recovery of the child involved coordination between multiple organizations and jurisdictions. Agencies in California and North Carolina worked together to verify the tip and confirm the child’s identity.
Law enforcement agencies often collaborate with national organizations when dealing with missing child investigations. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children plays a major role in supporting these efforts by maintaining databases, distributing alerts, and assisting with public outreach.
Such cooperation can be essential in cases where individuals may have relocated to different states or adopted new identities.
Authorities say communication between agencies helped investigators follow up on information that ultimately led to the child’s discovery.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
Although the child has been found safe, officials say the investigation is still active. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether anyone has been arrested or whether criminal charges may be filed.
Investigators are continuing to examine how the child came to be living under another name and who may have been responsible for her care during the years she was missing.
Law enforcement agencies often limit the information released in cases involving minors in order to protect the child’s privacy and safety. For this reason, some details about the investigation have not been made public.
Officials also emphasize that protecting the child’s identity and well-being remains the highest priority.
Missing Child Cases in the United States
Cases involving missing children receive significant attention from law enforcement and child protection organizations across the United States. According to data collected by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, thousands of reports involving missing minors are submitted each year.
Many cases are resolved relatively quickly when children are located within days or weeks. However, a smaller number remain open for extended periods, particularly when individuals cross state lines or when limited information is available.
Public awareness campaigns, law enforcement coordination, and national databases all play an important role in helping investigators locate missing children.
Importance of Public Tips
Authorities frequently encourage members of the public to report credible information that may assist in missing person cases. Even small details can sometimes lead investigators to re-examine old leads or identify new locations to search.
Tips from the public are typically reviewed carefully before investigators determine whether additional action is required.
In this case, a tip reportedly led investigators to examine information in another state, eventually helping authorities locate the child.
Conclusion
The recovery of the child reported missing from Duarte in 2020 demonstrates how long-term investigations can lead to positive outcomes, even years after an initial disappearance.
Law enforcement agencies from multiple states, along with organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, played a role in helping locate the girl and ensure her safety.
While the investigation continues, authorities say the case highlights the importance of cooperation between agencies and the value of public awareness in resolving missing child cases.
Officials also emphasize that protecting the privacy and well-being of the child remains a top priority as the situation continues to develop.