Federal authorities said the child was located after a trafficking-related tip led investigators to Olympia.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A child reported missing from Mesa, Arizona, in May was found safe June 25 inside a large homeless encampment in Olympia, federal authorities said.
The U.S. Marshals Service said the child was located at a 20-acre encampment in the 3200 block of Martin Way East, an area commonly known as “The Jungle.” Authorities said the child had been reported missing to the Mesa Police Department and was considered endangered before investigators developed a lead in Washington state.
The search began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent information to the U.S. Marshals Service on June 18. Federal officials said the information indicated the child could be a victim of sex trafficking in Washington. A deputy U.S. marshal assigned to missing-child cases in western Washington then developed a lead that pointed investigators to Olympia.
On June 25, U.S. marshals and officers with the Washington State Department of Corrections canvassed the encampment and found the child. Authorities said the child was safely recovered and turned over to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Olympia Police Department for treatment and victim assistance.
Officials have not released the child’s name, age or detailed condition. They also have not said how the child traveled from Arizona to Washington or how long the child had been in the Olympia area. No arrests had been announced in connection with the recovery.
The encampment where the child was found has been described by federal authorities as an area with high rates of violence and community safety concerns. Local reports identified it as a sprawling camp along Martin Way East, where outreach workers, law enforcement officers and social service providers have dealt with safety issues connected to people living outdoors.
The case drew attention because of the distance between Mesa and Olympia, which are more than 1,000 miles apart. It also highlighted the role of national missing-child alerts, federal investigators and local agencies when a child is believed to have crossed state lines after being reported missing.
The U.S. Marshals Service said its Missing Child Unit works with local, state and federal agencies to locate endangered children. In this case, officials said the tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children helped investigators narrow the search and move quickly once the Olympia lead was developed.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine what happened after the child disappeared from Arizona. Officials have not said whether they are seeking any suspects or whether additional agencies are reviewing possible trafficking allegations.
The child was safe and receiving assistance after being recovered in Olympia. Authorities had not released another public update on the case as of Thursday.
Author note: Last updated July 2, 2026.