Account
Sep 24, 2018
May 25, 2023
Barbara
Choc-Chum
22
16
56 inches
120 lbs
Hispanic / Latino
Female
In the summer of 2018, a 16-year-old girl named Barbara Choc-Chum vanished from Kirkland, Washington, a place she had only recently come to know. Originally from Guatemala, Barbara was navigating the complexities of a new country and a new language. On June 18, 2018, she was last seen; she had run away from her foster home. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, denim blue jeans, and black Under Armour tennis shoes. Concerns for her safety were heightened by the fact that she was believed to be in the company of an unknown male she had met on Facebook. This circumstance, coupled with her unfamiliarity with American culture and her limited English proficiency, created a deeply worrying situation for those who cared for her. Barbara's primary language was not even mainstream Spanish, but a specific Guatemalan dialect, further isolating her and making it more difficult for her to seek help or for others to communicate with her. This language barrier was a significant hurdle in the initial search and in public appeals for information. She was in possession of an ORCA bus card, which is valid on most transit systems in the Seattle metropolitan area, suggesting she could have traveled some distance from Kirkland. Her case was registered with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), and the Kirkland Police Department was listed as the investigating agency. Despite these efforts, information about her whereabouts remained scarce, leaving her loved ones and community members in a state of uncertainty. The circumstances surrounding Barbara Choc-Chum's disappearance highlight the vulnerabilities of a young person in an unfamiliar environment. Having recently arrived from Guatemala, she was not only dealing with the challenges of being a teenager but also with the cultural and linguistic shock of a new country. The fact that she may have left with an individual she met online added a layer of potential danger to her situation. The lack of significant updates in her case over the years has left a void for those who knew her. The overview of her case is one of a vulnerable teen, new to the country, who disappeared under concerning circumstances, leaving a community with more questions than answers and a family holding onto hope for her safe return.
Jun 18, 2018
Kirkland
Washington
King County
98034
No
41101
Kirkland Police Department
Kirkland
Washington
King County
98034
11750 Northeast 18th Street, Washington
4255873400
Local
Law Enforcement
18-22481
2018-06-18
Kirkland Police Department
na
Black
Brown
Brown
06/17/2026
