
PULLMAN, Wash. — A 2-year-old girl from Pullman, reported missing in early June, was found safe in Mexico over the weekend.
Authorities located the girl at a roadside checkpoint near Santa Ana, Mexico, with her father, Aaron Daniel Aung, 21, and his fiancé, Nadia Cole, 21. Cole, a recent Washington State University graduate originally from Port Angeles, was reported missing on May 29 after disappearing at the airport while waiting to board a flight to Italy with her mother.
All three were detained by Mexican authorities and handed over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Aung is held in Arizona, awaiting extradition to Whitman County. Cole was deported to the U.S., and the girl is now with Arizona Child Protective Services.
Cole’s family released a statement about her return:
“On July 4th, our daughter, Nadia Cole, was found safe and unharmed by Mexico police and was safely transported to the border to re-enter the U.S. where she voluntarily came back to her parents. Since her return, Nadia has been fully cooperating with authorities to help locate and aid in the safe return of Aaron Aung and 2-year-old Seraya Aung Harmon. She is recovering from her ordeal at a secure private location. Details of the circumstances that led to her disappearance remain part of an ongoing investigation, and we trust that more information will be released as deemed appropriate by the investigating agencies.
We are eternally grateful for the dedicated officers and detectives of the FBI, Port of Seattle Police, and the Pullman and Moscow police departments who worked diligently to ensure Nadia’s safe return since she was reported missing on May 29th, and for the successful safe return of Aaron Aung and Seraya. We would especially like to thank Security Services Northwest for their initial role as a central hub for tips and information as the missing persons case was progressing.
To our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and the hundreds of friends and acquaintances of Nadia, we don’t know how we could have coped with this situation without your love and support. Thank you.”