Urgent: 10-year-old Niece In Immediate Danger In Washington State – How Do I Get Emergency Guardianship Fast?

Hi everyone, I’m posting here because I am desperate and running out of time.

My 10-year-old niece is currently in Washington state with her father (“Mac”), and she is in immediate danger. I’ll try to keep this as clear as possible.

Background:

My older sister (her mother) was in a severely abusive relationship with this man starting around 2014. The abuse included physical, emotional, and sexual violence. He isolated her completely from our family. They had a daughter (my niece) in 2016. Over the years, they moved constantly, often to avoid police/CPS involvement, living off-grid and in unstable conditions.

Around when my niece was ~3, he abandoned my sister and disappeared with the child. We lost contact and had no way to locate them. My sister later passed away from an overdose about 3 years ago. My parents now have adopted and full custody of her other children (from another man)

Current situation:

A few days ago, I received a call from an anonymous person who has located my niece in Washington. This person has gained her trust, and what she’s reporting is extremely alarming:

• She is often left alone for days at a time • Her father straps a loaded gun to her “for protection” when he leaves • She has very little food and survives by boiling old bones • A neighbor has been secretly leaving food for her • She has shared photos of physical abuse • She has never attended school (only erratic “homeschooling”) • She does not have her own bed and shares one with her father • She is now expressing suicidal thoughts as a way to escape 

CPS has already been called, and nothing has happened as he is an extremely manipulative person and talks his way out of it, but we are extremely concerned this further escalation will cause him to flee again. He has a long history of running when authorities get involved.

About me:

I am stable, employed, and have a safe home. I am financially able and fully willing to pursue legal action and take immediate custody of my niece if given the opportunity. Location: Utah

What I need help with:

I am trying to pursue emergency guardianship or custody, but I cannot get anyone to respond quickly enough. This situation feels extremely time-sensitive and life-threatening.

• What is the fastest legal path to emergency custody across state lines (I am living in Utah)? • Is there a way to escalate this beyond standard CPS reporting? • Should I be contacting law enforcement directly in that county and how do I ensure urgency? • Are there specific emergency court filings or terms I should be using to get immediate attention? 

I am willing to travel immediately and do whatever it takes. I just don’t know how to cut through the system fast enough before he disappears again.

Any guidance from people familiar with Washington state law or emergency custody situations would mean everything right now.