WASHINGTON COUNTY, N.C. — An 11-year-old California girl who was kidnapped nearly six years ago has been found safe in North Carolina, where authorities say she was enrolled in school under a false name.
Karen Rojas was recovered Tuesday in Washington County, North Carolina, ending a search that began when she disappeared from Duarte, California, on June 2, 2020, at age 5. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services reported her missing in July 2020 after her mother stopped communicating with authorities during an active investigation and allegedly took the child. The discovery came after coordinated efforts between California investigators and North Carolina law enforcement agencies spanning multiple states and nearly 2,700 miles.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies located Rojas on March 10 after receiving information from Los Angeles authorities on March 6 that the child might be in their jurisdiction. Sergeant Quintana and School Resource Officers Tate and Scolaro determined the girl had been enrolled in the Washington County School District under an alias name, according to official statements from the sheriff’s office. Deputies immediately took her into protective custody after confirming her identity through coordination with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “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.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Rojas’s mother was believed to have taken the child after cutting off contact with the Department of Children and Family Services during an ongoing investigation. Temple Station detectives had been working the case since the formal missing person report was filed on July 1, 2020, one month after the child’s disappearance from the Los Angeles County city of Duarte. Missing person posters at the time described Rojas as Hispanic with brown hair and brown eyes. Authorities have not disclosed how long the child had been living in North Carolina or provided details about her living situation there, citing her age and the sensitivity of the case. The investigation involved multiple agencies in both California and North Carolina working together to track down leads and verify the child’s identity.
Child abduction cases involving parental kidnapping represent a significant portion of missing children reports nationwide, with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children handling thousands of such cases annually. The organization played a crucial role in identifying Rojas after she was located in North Carolina. Cases where children are found after extended periods living under false identities are particularly complex, often requiring careful coordination between child protective services, law enforcement, and educational institutions. The successful recovery demonstrates the importance of maintaining active investigations even in long-term missing person cases, where leads can emerge years after initial disappearances. Washington County’s rural location, approximately 2,700 miles from Los Angeles County, illustrates how missing children cases can span vast geographic distances and require interstate cooperation.
Both California and North Carolina authorities confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing, though they have not announced any arrests or filed charges in connection with the kidnapping. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated it will continue coordinating with the Department of Children and Family Services and North Carolina authorities as the case progresses. Legal proceedings in parental abduction cases typically involve both criminal charges and family court custody determinations. Authorities indicated that additional information would be released as it becomes available, while emphasizing that protecting the child’s privacy remains a top priority. The complex nature of interstate child abduction cases often requires careful legal coordination between jurisdictions to ensure proper handling of both criminal and civil aspects.
Rojas is currently in protective custody while authorities work to determine next steps in her case. Child welfare officials from both states are coordinating to ensure her safety and well-being during the transition process. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the collaborative nature of the successful recovery, crediting cooperation between multiple agencies for the positive outcome. Officials noted that such recoveries in long-term missing children cases serve as reminders that persistence in investigations can yield results even years after initial disappearances. The case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in tracking missing children across state lines and the importance of maintaining updated databases and communication networks between jurisdictions.
The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the timeline of events over the past six years and determine what charges, if any, will be filed in connection with Rojas’s disappearance and recovery.
