A young girl who was taken nearly six years ago has been located safe and sound, over 2,600 miles away from where she was abducted. Karen Rojas, now 11 years old, was kidnapped on June 2, 2020, from Duarte, a town near Los Angeles, California. She was discovered living under a different name in Washington County, North Carolina, on Tuesday.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a tip from authorities in Los Angeles indicating that the missing girl might be in their jurisdiction. A collaborative effort among various agencies led to the breakthrough, pinpointing the child’s whereabouts at a local school where she had been residing under an assumed identity.
Law enforcement officials expressed surprise at the positive turn of events in such a long-standing case, emphasizing the significance of hard work, dedication, and cooperation in achieving such outcomes. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department revealed that the child’s mother, who had custody, ceased communication with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) during an inquiry and was suspected of taking the child.
Details regarding potential arrests or charges related to the incident have not been disclosed. It remains unclear how long the girl had been in North Carolina or with whom she was living at the time of her discovery. The LASD affirmed their commitment to collaborating with DCFS and North Carolina authorities as the investigation progresses.
In a separate incident, Michele Hundley Smith, a mother who disappeared without a trace 24 years ago after mentioning she was going out for Christmas shopping, has been located alive, leading a surprising double life. Smith left her three children, aged seven, 14, and 19 at the time, in North Carolina, USA. The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office recently confirmed her well-being, leaving her family in disbelief and seeking answers about her sudden disappearance in 2001.
Barbara Byrd, Smith’s cousin, expressed relief and curiosity about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, stating, “I kind of want to go outside and scream ‘she’s alive, she’s alive.’ For years, we didn’t know if we were grieving or waiting… My biggest question is to her ‘What happened all those years ago in December? What made you leave? What happened?”