Sofia Lucerne Juarez was born on February 5th, 1998 to her mother, Maria Juarez. Her father, Andres Gutierrez Abrajan, was not around since he denied being Sofia's father.
Sofia lived in a house that is on the 100 block of East 15th Avenue in east Kennewick, Washington. There she lived with her mother, Maria, her grandmother, Ignacia Prado Juarez; her grandmother's boyfriend, Jose Lopez Torres; and her six aunts and uncles.
Sofia was only 4 years old at the time of her disappearance and was excited to celebrate her 5th birthday but sadly, no one was going to be able to celebrate it.
On February 4th, 2003, one day before her 5th birthday, Sofia was at home, playing with her young uncles when Jose Lopez Torres, her grandmother's boyfriend, came into the room and ask the kids if they want to go to the nearby convenience store with him. At the last minute, Sofia decided to take up that offer and asked her mother for a dollar, but Torres, who did not know about the girl's last-minute decision, had left around that time.
Maria, the girl's mother, gave her daughter a dollar and watched her daughter leave the house. That was the last time Maria ever saw her daughter again.
Sofia was wearing a long red long-sleeved shirt, blue overalls, violet socks, white converse sneakers, and gold hoop earrings.
After Torres arrived at the store, he purchased milk and made a call on a pay phone to relatives in Mexico before he returned home at 21:45 (9:45)
Once he returned home, Torres and Maria became aware of the miscommunication and that Sofia had left the house to join him. After searching for her daughter, Maria called the police at 21:53 (9:53).
The police arrived 3 minutes after receiving the call and were able to find the circumstances of the report — particularly the time of night she disappeared, weather conditions, and Juarez's age. The circumstances made it appear unlikely that she had wandered off or was hiding.
The police conducted interviews with the family members and up to seven different patrol officers began the search at Sofia's house, yard, the family's vehicle, neighborhood properties playgrounds, parks, schools, businesses, fields, and vacant lots.
It was quickly ruled out that Sofia was missing as a result of an injury or becoming lost. Her case was immediately taken as a likely child abduction. Within an hour, the publicity of Sofia's disappearance was broadcast by the media.
Dozens of private citizens responded that night to assist in the search for Sofia. Citizens were teamed up with police officers to create multiple search teams. Systematic quadrant searches were conducted and expanded as more resources and information became available.
Night vision and thermal imaging devices were used, and dumpsters and residential garbage cans were searched. Over the 3 days after Sofia's disappearance, hundreds of citizen volunteers guided the police in the search.
An hour after reporting Sofia's disappearance, the FBI was called in and arrived to conduct a joint abducted child investigation with the Kennewick Police Department.
Over the next 3 days, over 500 police officers, FBI agents, Dive and Rescue members, Incident Management Team personnel, and civilian volunteer members became involved in the search for Sofia.
Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, equipped with special thermal imaging devices, searched waterways, neighborhoods, and remote areas.
Sheriff patrol boats and the Coast Guard searched nearby rivers. City crews searched sewer systems. King County Search and Rescue cadaver and scent dog teams were used on several occasions. Flyers were widely distributed to schools and businesses seeking any information on Sofia.
The Fraternal Order of Police offered a $5,000.00 reward for information on Sofia. Crime Stoppers also offered a $1,000.00 reward.
Family members, friends, Sofia's biological father, and others were located and investigated. Over 150 sex offenders living in Kennewick, or outside the immediate area, were either researched, contacted, or investigated for possible links to Sofia.
Over 144 out-of-area reported sightings of Sofia were investigated. Pen registration traps and traces were placed on telephones. Telephone records were obtained under subpoenas and/or search warrants. Multiple residences and vehicles were searched. Persons of interest were identified and investigated.
For the first 45 days after Juarez was reported missing, the entire Kennewick police department was focused on solving her case, as were agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. At least four detectives served as lead investigators on the case in the first eight years of the investigation. According to the police, the role of the lead investigator is assigned to a different person every few years to bring new perspectives to the forefront.
A Candlelit vigil and march were held for Juarez on February 11, 2003, one week after the disappearance. The vigil began at the Juarez home and saw about 300 people march from the house to St. Joseph's Church. By the third week of the search for Sofia, the Juarez family had removed the public memorial established outside their home.
America's most wanted to do an episode on the Juarez's case less than 3 weeks after she had vanished. The initial broadcast generated 13 phone tips from as far afield as New York. She was also featured on subsequent episodes in September 2003 and March 2004.
In March 2021 the Kennewick Police Department created a website devoted solely to Sofia's disappearance: https://www.go2kennewick.com/1368/What-Happened-to-Sofia
Back in late 2007 or early 2008, Sofia's mother, Maria Juarez, moved to California. In mid-2008, she gave birth to another child. Maria died in Sacramento on January 10, 2009, due to medical complications.
In June 2021, police released a suspect description of the person and vehicle they believe was involved in Sofia's abduction. A highly credible witness observed a Hispanic juvenile male, estimated to be 11 to 14 years old at the time (as of 2021 believed to be about 29 to 32 years of age), light-complexioned, about 5-00 to 5-02 at the time, "chubby" appearance-based primarily upon facial features, having a "baby face" with a possible mark on a cheek, dark short wavy hair and possibly big hands for a person his age.
The suspect encountered Sofia and led her towards a van as she cried and he laughed. The van was a light-colored older 1970s to early 1980's type full-sized panel van with no side windows. The vehicle was occupied and stopped in the roadway at the next side street. Police believe the van and the suspect are likely associated.
A Kennewick couple has very generously offered a $10,000.00 reward for information leading to the discovery of Sofia's whereabouts. Tips can be provided on Sofia's website.
Sofia has now been missing for 19 years, 4 months, and 7 days.
Her case, to this day, is still...
Unsolved
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