California officials discuss search for Kiely Rodni
The mother of Kiely Rodni has said an Amber Alert should have been “been issued immediately” as the desperate search to find her missing 16-year-old daughter entered the sixth day.
Kiely was last seen around 12.30am on 6 August near the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, where she attended an allegedly alcohol-fuelled gathering of more than 200 teens and young adults.
An investigation was launched by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office the next morning after Kiely failed to show up for a hike with friends.
The case is being treated as an abduction because Kiely’s car is unaccounted for. More than 260 personnel have been canvassing the area on the ground and in the air and more than 500 tips have been received from the public.
Investigators say they don’t have any new leads, but still suspect someone in the community knows more.
Kiely’s mother Lindsey Rodni-Nieman urged anyone at the party who has information to speak up.
“We are desperate for any other teens to come out and share the last pieces of the story that nobody seems to be able to piece together,” she told The Independent.
Police shut down online rumours
Investigators were forced to shut down false rumours that circulated online claiming that Kiely had been spotted.
Audio alleged to be from a police scanner was posted online on Thursday, reporting a possible sighting of the missing teen and her car.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office responded to the rumours confirming that they were “untrue”.
Rachel Sharp12 August 2022 14:45
Kiely Rodni’s mother refuses to give up hope
Kiely Rodni’s mother said she is refusing to let herself think of the worst possible scenario but said that not knowing what has happened to her daughter is “a very difficult place” to be in.
Lindsey-Rodni-Nieman told The Independent on Thursday: “The mind reels and I think that our imagination is our best asset and our worst enemy and I don’t want to give power to any of my worst thoughts by speaking them out and making them words.”
The family is just holding onto hope that “one day this is a memory and when that day comes she’ll be back with us”, she said.
Rachel Sharp12 August 2022 14:25
Kiely’s best friend says she ‘just wants her back’
Kiely’s best friend Magdalene Larson has said she “just wants her back” as the search entered its sixth day.
“I just want her to come back and be OK and just to know that she’s loved and that we all looked for her and that we all loved her through this and stuff,” she told KCRA3.
Ms Larson described her best friend as “such a vibrant person” with “so much energy”.
The two best friends met briefly aged nine at an art camp but became close a few years later when their mother’s became friends.
“My parents decided that we’re going to hang out and that I was going to be friends with their daughter and that’s just what happened,” she said.
It was when they went on a three-hour walk together one day that their friendship was cemented and they have been best friends since.
Rachel Sharp12 August 2022 14:05
Fight at party believed to be unconnected to Kiely’s disappearance
It has emerged that a fight broke out at the party at Prosser Family Campground on the night of 6 August – but that officials do not believe it is connected to Kiely’s disappearance.
In Thursday’s press conference, Placer County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Josh Barnhart mentioned the fight at the party.
While investigators do not believe it has any connection to Kiely going missing, Lt Barnhart said that people recorded the fight and so investigators want to see the footage to see if it holds any clues.
Teens and young adults who attended the party were urged to send the videos to law enforcement and were also told that – if they are concerned about coming forward with information about the missing persons…