Denise Rosch reporting
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.
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.
