In a heart-wrenching case that has haunted Aurora, Colorado, for over seven years, the search for 16-year-old Lashaya Stein has intensified as her family fears she may have fallen victim to 𝓈ℯ𝓍 trafficking. Disappearing in the early hours of July 15, 2016, Lashaya was last seen on surveillance footage crossing a street, seemingly normal, but vanishing without a trace moments later.

Lashaya’s family awoke that fateful morning to find her gone, a shock that quickly spiraled into panic. Despite her plans for a job interview later that day, Lashaya left behind her phone, wallet, and ID, raising alarm bells for her mother, Sabrina Jones. Initial police responses labeled her a runaway, dismissing critical signs that suggested something more sinister at play. As days turned into weeks, the family uncovered chilling rumors that Lashaya may have been taken by a man known for trafficking young girls.

With each passing year, the desperation for answers only deepens. Sabrina, now battling the toll of heartbreak and stress on her health, pleads for anyone with information to come forward. “What if we never know?” she laments, echoing the fears of countless families searching for loved ones lost to the shadows of trafficking.

The Aurora Police Department has ramped up efforts, including a recent search of a vacant property linked to tips about Lashaya. Yet, despite the mounting evidence, leads have turned cold. As the FBI joins the investigation, the urgency grows—Lashaya could be anywhere, possibly living under an assumed identity, or worse.

Now 23, Lashaya’s story must be told to help bring her home. The clock is ticking, and her family is imploring the public to assist in the search. If you have any information regarding her disappearance, please contact the Aurora Police Department immediately. The time for answers is now.