In an international resolution to what began as a local disappearance, a 2-year-old girl missing from Pullman has been discovered safe in Santa Ana, Mexico. Pullman Police have confirmed that Aaron Aung, the girl's father, along with his fiancé Nadia Cole, were detained at a roadside checkpoint. Aung is awaiting extradition back to Whitman County on charges of first-degree custodial interference. Authorities initially believed the trio might have headed to Idaho after Aung purchased camping gear and a Montana map book in Moscow, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle.
According to KING 5 News, the Pullman Police issued a warrant for Aung's arrest on June 5, failing to safely return the child to her mother's custody on the agreed-upon date. Instead, he apparently chose to quickly cross borders alongside Cole, with their journey unexpectedly culminating in Mexico. The child was found over a month after their departure, with the family's vehicle, a black 2014 Cadillac XTS with Idaho plates, key to tracing their movement.
The search involved multiple agencies, with detectives from both Pullman and Moscow police departments collaborating with the FBI Seattle Division. This concerted effort spanned international lines to reunite the young child with her mother. It was this network of vigilance that played a critical role in the safe recovery of the 2-year-old, a testament to the relentless nature of such investigations.
Following the recovery, Cole's family expressed their relief in a statement obtained by KOMO News. Aung is currently being held at the Santa Cruz County Detention Center in Nogales, Arizona, soon to be transported back to Whitman County. As the case transitions from search to prosecution, the focus remains firmly set to understand fully the events that led to this interstate - and eventually international - custodial dispute.
