Aurora police asked the public to help identify a girl. On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the department said her parents had been located, thanking the community for helping raise awareness of the search.
said in a social media post at 12:43 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, that the child's parents had been located, thanking the community for helping raise awareness of the search. The department had asked the public for help identifying the girl.
The department's social media alert asked the public to help identify the girl.
Why Nonverbal Children Face Added Risk When They Wander
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says nearly half of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder go missing or elope, citing data published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It also notes that some individuals with autism are nonspeaking or have limited speech.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says at least 98 children and young adults were recovered deceased in 2025 and that 88% drowned. The National Autism Association urges search teams and first responders to search water first whenever a nonverbal or autistic child is reported missing from home.
Police Used Social Media to Seek Public Help
Aurora police used social media to ask the public to help identify the girl.
It remains unclear how the girl came to be separated from her parents before she was found, and whether Arapahoe or Adams County human services will conduct any follow-up review. Colorado law designates more than 40 professional categories — including educators, healthcare workers, and law enforcement officers — as mandatory reporters required to report suspected child abuse and/or neglect within 24 hours, under rules maintained by CO4Kids.
The statewide 844-CO-4-KIDS hotline is another option for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
A Recent Missing-Child Case in Arapahoe County
Wednesday's resolution followed a recent case in neighboring Arapahoe County in late September, when agencies used drone sweeps and emergency alerts to safely recover an 11-year-old boy who went missing from an Aurora-area park, reflecting how local departments increasingly lean on rapid technology and public alerts to reunite families quickly.
