Missing Since: 1999-10-20 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Karla was last seen at approximately 7:00 p.m. on October 20, 1999 in the 800 block of Bonita Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada. She went to visit a neighbor’s son to play with him, but the neighbor told her to go home because it was getting late. She played outside alone for about fifteen minutes before leaving on her bike. The location was two blocks from her family’s home and also near the Stratosphere Tower in downtown Las Vegas. Karla never returned to her house and has not been seen again. She wasn’t reported missing until the next morning. Her father spoke to the neighbor who saw Karla, assumed she must have gone to another friend’s house, and went home to bed. The next morning, when she still wasn’t home, her mother called the school to see if she’d gone there for classes. The school principal called the police at this time. Karla’s disappearance was originally thought to be linked to a debt her parents owed a former brother-in-law. A few months before Karla disappeared, the brother-in-law came to Las Vegas and demanded to be repaid. The family gave him $1,000, but he said that was only the interest and he wanted more money. It was theorized that the man abducted Karla in attempt to extort money from her parents, but he has since been ruled out as a suspect in her case. Investigators now believe Karla was taken by someone outside her family. Her disappearance remains unsolved. Investigating Agency Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 702-229-5678 Source Information The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Child Protection Education of America America’s Most Wanted NamUs Las Vegas Sun The Polly Klaas Foundation Child Search Ministries Unsolved in the News The Las Vegas Review-Journal Updated 9 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated February 4, 2021; two pictures added.