parks
Missing child believed to have been sex trafficked found 1,400 miles away in an encampment
By Haley Williams, Emily Van de Riet at KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS)
· July 3, 2026
· 1 min read
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...
Key takeaway 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.
Why this matters in The Midland
The recovery of a missing child from Arizona in a Washington state homeless encampment has implications for Midland , as it highlights the vast distances human trafficking can span. Given the Permian Basin's strategic location along major highways, it's crucial for local law enforcement and social services to be vigilant about potential trafficking cases. The fact that the child was found over 1,400 miles away from her home in Mesa, Arizona, underscores the need for coordination between agencies across state lines. In Midland, community members should be aware of the signs of human trafficking and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. The successful collaboration between the U.S. Marshals Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and local agencies in Washington state demonstrates the importance of a multi-faceted approach to combating human trafficking, a strategy that Midland's own law enforcement and social services can learn from.
About this story
Original reporting by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) . The Midland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 3, 2026 ·
Source: KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? 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...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 3, 2026 by KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS) and curated for The Midland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Haley Williams, Emily Van de Riet at KOSA CBS7 / First Alert 7 (Permian Basin CBS). To learn more about how The Midland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Midland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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