Children Missing for Nearly Three Years Found Safe in Virginia

Two children who were considered 'critically missing' after vanishing from Washington State nearly three years ago have been found safely in Virginia, living under new names, authorities announced Wednesday.

The US Marshals Service's Missing Child Unit located the children in the greater Washington, D.C. area. They had been reported missing to the Redmond, Washington Police Department in December 2023.

After the case stalled with no new leads, the police department and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children requested assistance from the US Marshals Service. Investigators followed leads across three states, collaborating with the US Marshals Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Arlington Police Department.

Investigators determined that the children's mother had taken them after losing custody and had concealed their identities to evade law enforcement. The children were safely returned to their father's custody on September 16.

It is currently unclear whether the mother will face criminal charges. The US Marshals Service noted that the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 expanded its authority to assist in the recovery of endangered missing children, even when no fugitive or sex offender is involved. Since the act's passage, the agency has contributed to the location or recovery of 5,281 missing children.