A girl reported missing in February 2006 was found in Loudoun County this week, authorities said.
Stephanie Cano, now 12, was found with her mother at a residence on West Nettle Tree Road in Sterling, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
When Cano was 6, her father reported her missing from their Los Angeles home. Authorities had suspected that Cano’s mother took her and left the country, and they were believed at the time to be in a stolen silver 2004 Dodge Neon.
Detectives in Loudoun County were contacted after the Los Angeles Police Department received a tip earlier this month that Cano was possibly living in the Sterling area, sheriff’s officials said. The tip came through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website.
Stephanie Cano is in the process of being returned to her father, officials said. Her mother, 39-year-old Maria Cano, was taken into custody Monday.
Authorities said Maria Cano is wanted in California for child concealment and multiple counts of grand theft. She is being held without bond as a fugitive from justice and awaits extradition at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.
