5-year-old girl and 11-year-old age-progression side-by-side

A child abducted by a custodial parent from California in 2020 has been safely recovered in North Carolina after six years. Now 11 years old, the child was found enrolled in a local school system under an alias through a Department of Children and Family Services investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Her recovery followed a National Center for Missing & Exploited Children age progression image released three months prior and involved close coordination between Los Angeles County authorities and North Carolina law enforcement. This case demonstrates the critical role of sustained interstate communication, updated age-progression technology, and the diligence of school resource officers in resolving long-term missing child cases.

After the initiation of a custodial parent child welfare investigation, the mother stopped communicating with the Department of Children and Family Services and relocated across the country. The child was enrolled in a North Carolina public school under an alias. School resource officers played a direct role in locating the child, proving that educational systems are vital hubs for recognizing missing children.

Age-progression technology remains a vital tool in long-term missing children cases. Updating visual profiles—such as the NCMEC image released three months prior to this rescue—keeps cold cases visible and equips law enforcement with current, actionable data.

The outcome relied heavily on cross-country coordination. Information shared from Los Angeles County directly prompted the Washington County Sheriff's Office to act.

Key Findings

  • The abduction occurred during an active child welfare investigation when the custodial parent severed contact.

  • The missing child evaded detection for six years by using a false name to enroll in a school system.

  • The release of an age-progression image three months before the recovery refreshed case visibility.

  • The successful recovery resulted from direct intelligence sharing between California and North Carolina law enforcement.

  • Local school deputies were instrumental in confirming the child's identity and taking her into protective custody.

Sources

  • NCMEC (March 11, 2026): NCMEC report on the safe recovery of Karen Rojas in North Carolina (Link)

  • FOX 11 Los Angeles (March 11, 2026):  Missing California girl kidnapped in 2020 found safe in North Carolina 6 years later (Link)

  • ABC10 (March 13, 2026): California girl who vanished 6 years ago found safe 2,500 miles away (Link)

  • The Independent (March 11, 2026): Missing California girl, 11, last seen in 2020 found enrolled at North Carolina school under 'an alias name' (Link)