Missing Arizona girl found in notorious homeless encampment nicknamed 'The Jungle' in Olympia

A missing Arizona girl believed to be at risk of sex trafficking has been safely recovered from a massive homeless encampment in Olympia, Washington, following a multi-agency operation.

According to the US Marshals Service, the juvenile had been reported missing to the Mesa Police Department in May. According to KATU, investigators received a tip on June 18 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, indicating she may have been trafficked into Washington state.

Federal investigators traced the lead to Olympia's notorious homeless encampment known as "The Jungle," a roughly 20-acre site along Interstate 5 near the Sleater-Kinney Road interchange.

Deputy US Marshals assigned to missing child investigations in the Western District of Washington coordinated with the Washington State Department of Corrections to search the encampment. Authorities located the girl on Thursday and transferred her to the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families and the Olympia Police Department to receive care and victim services.

"Protecting our nation's children is of the highest importance," Acting US Marshal Donrien Stephens said. He credited federal, state, and local partners for working together to safely recover a child who was considered to be at heightened risk of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Olympia officials have estimated that between 100 and 250 people typically camp inside The Jungle. The US Marshals Service described the encampment as an area that sees regular violence and public safety concerns. In 2023, a woman was found dead in the encampment.

The Marshals Service noted that its authority to assist in recovering endangered missing children was expanded under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, which established the agency's Missing Child Unit and allows it to assist law enforcement even when a fugitive or registered sex offender is not involved. Since the law took effect, the agency says it has helped locate or recover 5,281 missing children nationwide.

Authorities have not released the girl's name, age, or identified any suspects connected to the suspected trafficking investigation. So far, officials have not announced any arrests related to the case.