KENNEWICK, Wash. - It's a case that turned a quiet Kennewick neighborhood upside down, and brought national attention to our area. 10 years ago Monday, 4 year-old Sofia Juarez disappeared from her home near 15th and Washington.
"I know it's been a long time for the people that it happened to, but it don't seem like it's been 10 years," said neighbor Del Jacobson. Jacobson tells NBC Right Now he remembers Sofia playing in the neighborhood with other kids.
On the day she went missing in 2003, just like any other afternoon , her family thought she was playing with her brother. When they couldn't find her, police began a massive search, even calling in help from the FBI. In the weeks after, officers kept looking for any sign of little Sofia.
Kennewick Police Sgt. Ken Lattin was one of the first at the scene. "We've had lots of homicides, we've had lots of bad things happen over the years, but that one, all of us remember that date," he said.
As time passed by , Sofia's story grabbed the national spotlight. She has been featured on "America's Most Wanted", her face plastered on the side of big rigs. The attention brought in countless leads , but none that brought Sofia home.
"It's one of those where we don't have any evidence that she's still alive, we don't have any evidence that she's not still alive," said Sgt. Lattin.
If Sofia is still alive, she will turn 15 years-old on Tuesday. Police are still working to bring her home, and ask that you call them with any information in this case.
