Have you seen her?

Sofia Lucerno Juarez
​Kennewick, WA

Sofia Juarez vanished on the evening of Feb. 4, 2003, a day before her fifth birthday. Her case involved the first use of an Amber Alert in the state of Washington.

According to initial reports, Sofia, her mother, and other relatives were at their Kennewick, WA., home when the four-year-old somehow managed to exit the property without anyone noticing. The family thought that perhaps Sofia had gone with her grandmother's partner, who also lived at the house, to a convenience store earlier in the evening, but that turned out not to be the case. Fearing the worst, the girl's mother called 911.

Based on information from a witness, investigators believe Sofia was kidnapped as she walked westbound in the 100 block of E. 15th Avenue, just a short distance from the family's home. The witness learned about Sofia's disappearance on the news and contacted the police, claiming to have seen a little girl matching Sofia's description being led away by a Hispanic boy between 11 and 14 years old. The witness told investigators the girl was crying while the teen laughed as he walked her near an occupied van parked on the next street.

Although investigators had the witness information since 2003, they didn't share the details about the possible suspect or vehicle to the public until 2021. Why did the police hold on to that information for so long? It doesn't make sense. Sadly, Sofia's mother died of natural causes in 2009, never knowing what happened to her daughter. The family believes she died of a broken heart. 

In regards to a viral TikTok video by creator Aka y Alla who interviewed a 23-year-old woman in Culiacan, Mexico, whom many suspected looked like a grown Sofia, police say DNA test results rule her out. 

The van was described as a light blue or gray 1970s or early 1980s full-sized panel type van with no side windows. The teen boy would now be between 29-32 years old. If you have information about Sofia, call Kennewick Police Department special investigator Al Wehner at 509-582-1331 or 1-509-585-4208.

Sofia Juarez profile on NAMUS