U.S. Marshals located a missing girl from Arizona in a notorious homeless encampment in Olympia, Washington, nearly 1,500 miles from her home. The child is believed to be a victim of sex trafficking.
The investigation began on June 18 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided authorities with a tip that the girl had last been seen in Olympia and might be involved in sex trafficking. Investigators narrowed their search to an area known as "The Jungle," a sprawling, 20-acre homeless encampment.
The encampment, which city officials estimate is home to between 100 to 250 people, has been associated with crime and violence. In 2023, the body of a 37-year-old woman was found in a suitcase within the encampment.
Authorities found the girl on Thursday after searching the compound, which is described as being filled with trash and debris. The exact circumstances of how the girl went missing from Mesa, Arizona, and ended up in Washington are not yet clear.
"Protecting our nation’s children is of the highest importance," said Donrien Stephens, acting U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Washington, in a statement. "The excellent investigative efforts, collaboration, and persistence of our local, state, and community partners led to the safe recovery of a youth with an elevated risk of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation."
No arrests have been made in connection with the case. The girl has been placed in the custody of the Olympia Police Department and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families.