Missing child believed to have been sex trafficked found 1,400 miles away in an encampment

OLYMPIA, Wash. (KPHO/Gray News) — A child reported missing in Arizona in May has been found at a homeless encampment in Washington state, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

On June 18, U.S. Marshals received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that the girl was potentially a victim of sex trafficking in Washington state.

A marshal assigned to investigate quickly developed information that led him to a 20-acre homeless encampment known as “The Jungle” in Olympia, Washington, which has a high rate of criminal activity and violence, officials said.

U.S. Marshals, along with the Washington State Department of Corrections, searched the area and found the child Thursday, officials said.

The child was given to the Olympia Police Department and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families.

She was reported missing from Mesa, Arizona, which is more than 1,400 miles away.

“Protecting our nation’s children is of the highest importance,” said Donrien Stephens, acting U.S. marshal for the Western District of Washington. “The excellent investigative efforts, collaboration, and persistence of our local, state, and community partners lead to the safe recovery of a youth with an elevated risk of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.”

The child’s identity was not released, and no further information was available.