KARLA RODRIGUEZ - 7 yo (1999) - Las Vegas NV

by TomTerrific0420 Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:12 pm

One missing persons case that
captured the valley's attention is that of seven-year-old Karla
Rodriguez. Incredibly, it was 10 years ago Tuesday that she was
snatched from a Las Vegas street, never to be seen again. But family members say they are still praying for a miracle.
KARLA RODRIGUEZ - 7 yo (1999) - Las Vegas NV 4229192_vt

KARLA RODRIGUEZ - 7 yo (1999) - Las Vegas NV 4229192_vt

In 1999, a bubbly seven-year-old's disappearance dominated the evening
news. For the family of Karla Rodriguez, it's a loss they've agonized
over for the last ten years. "Every year it restarts anew,
feel the pain," says Rosie Rodriguez, Karla's sister. "When we talk
about it, it's like, ‘My gosh. Can't believe it's 10 years already.'" Rosie
was just 15 years old when her little sister vanished. Police believe
Karla was grabbed right off the street, one block away from her home
near St. Louis and Maryland Parkway. Despite an exhaustive
search, no trace of Karla was ever found. But Rosie and her mom Elia
believe she is definitely still alive. "We all feel she's still
alive. We don't have that feeling when somebody is gone. I think we
have the hope and we feel she's still alive." And the family
knows it's happened before - kidnapped children in Nevada do come
home. Just this year, Jaycee Lee Dugard was found after 18 years. And
over at Nevada Child Seekers, hope for Karla has never faded. Executive
Director Stephanie Parker says while their books are filled with the
faces of missing children, a lot has changed since Karla disappeared,
including a statewide Amber Alert system giving the public immediate
information about missing children. "I think there's a point
in looking for her because we don't know where she's at. Any lead that
can be called into law enforcement is not a wasted lead. Better safe
than sorry." Parker says it's also important for parents to teach their kids to trust their instincts and run from adults they don't know. "You
never think it's going to happen to you. And I think Karla Rodriguez
was one of those cases in which we said, ‘Gosh it can. It can happen
right in our own backyard.'" Back at home, Karla's mother
Elia will continue to hold tight to her daughter's favorite toy. And
while investigators know time may have changed her face, the Rodriguez
family believes it's Karla's love that could some day bring her back. "She
remembers us. We know she remembers us," says Rosie translating for her
mother. "She wants you to call and we will always be here for her." $400,000
in grant money will go to help the Clark County Coroner's Office solve
missing person's cases. The money will aid the medical examiner in
conducting exhumations and perform DNA tests on about 50 cases. There
are more than 160 missing persons cases involving deceased people here
in the county. Each case will be reviewed to determine which 50 will be
used in the grant.

by Watcher_of_all Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:27 pm

www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/rodriguez_karla_carolina.html

KARLA RODRIGUEZ - 7 yo (1999) - Las Vegas NV

KARLA RODRIGUEZ - 7 yo (1999) - Las Vegas NV

Re: KARLA RODRIGUEZ - 7 yo (1999) - Las Vegas NV