Advertisement

Kiely Rodni missing - live: Lead on ‘burial site’ in Truckee falls flat as search crews find dead dog

Authorities ramped up efforts to find missing teen Kiely Rodni as the search entered its second week.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office announced plans to bring in more personnel and expand the search area around Prosser Family Campground in Truckee over the weekend amid criticism over the lack of an Amber Alert when Kiely first disappeared.

Kiely was last seen around 12.30am on 6 August near the campground, where she attended an allegedly alcohol-fuelled gathering of more than 200 teens and young adults.

An investigation was launched the next morning after Kiely failed to show up for a hike with friends.

More than 260 personnel have been canvassing the area on the ground and in the air and more than 1,200 tips have been received from the public.

One of those tips fell flat on Saturday when FBI officials checking out a “potential burial site” dug up a dead dog.

Meanwhile, Kiely’s mother Lindsey Rodni-Nieman has continued pleading for information, telling The Independent: “We are desperate for any other teens to come out and share the last pieces of the story that nobody seems to be able to piece together.”

Key Points

  • Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party

  • Police release picture of Kiely’s jewelry

  • Partygoers urged to come forward with any information

  • No activity on Kiely Rodni’s cellphone since early hours of Saturday

Kiely’s friend describes her love of music

19:00 , Megan Sheets

Kiely’s friend, 17-year-old Madelyn Wicks, attended the event on Saturday and spoke of her love of music.

“She was always singing, singing in the car. I know she likes to play the guitar,” Madelyn told KCRA.

She said she is hopeful that the event will send a message to Kiely.

“We feel like, hopefully, this will help draw her here and know from at least wherever she is, she knows we are here,” she said.

Dead dog found in ‘potential burial site’

16:54 , Megan Sheets

FBI officials searching for Kiely reportedly spent hours digging up a “potential burial site” - only to find a dead dog inside it.

“Yesterday there was a potential burial site that was located near the [Prosser Family] campground,” Placer County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Angela Musallam said, according to SFGate.

“It was located by a search-and-rescue ground team. Kiely’s family was notified of the potential development. The FBI responded to secure the scene yesterday and was accompanied by the Placer and Nevada county sheriff’s offices. The FBI agents investigated the site through early this morning and recovered the remains of a dog.”

‘Song is twice as loud as a prayer’

16:00 , Megan Sheets

One of the performers at Saturday’s event was Jenni Charles, Kiely’s longtime music teacher.

“They say song is twice as loud as a prayer,” Ms Charles said on stage, according to KCRA.

“It’s not just people coming together to have a party. It’s because we are connected to her musically and we are playing her songs. We hope she can hear so that she knows we are going to find her soon.”

Recalling how she taught Kiely to play the fiddle when she was just two years old, Ms Charles said: “She was the youngest student I took on because of her determination and the light and how much she enjoyed music.”

Hundreds attend ‘Kountry for Kiely’ event

14:01 , Megan Sheets

Hundreds of supporters turned out for a musical event raising awareness about Kiely’s disappearance on Saturday evening.

The event called “Kountry for Kiely” paid tribute to the teen’s love of music, with performers dedicating their songs to her.

It was held at Truckee Regional Park as the search for Kiely entered its second week.

Kiely’s boyfriend recalls their final conversation

11:00 , Megan Sheets

The boyfriend of Kiely Rodni broke his silence to reveal the last conversation he had with her before she vanished without a trace at a campground party – as the search for the missing teenager now enters its eighth day.

Jagger Westfall texted his 16-year-old girlfriend to tell her to “be safe” and “don’t do anything stupid” on the night of 5 August as she headed to a senior farewell party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, California.

“And so I was just like, OK. Be safe. Don’t like, do anything stupid,” he told KTXL.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s boyfriend breaks silence as search enters fifth day for missing teen

ICYMI: Police say adults are discouraging teens from coming forward

08:00 , Megan Sheets

During a press conference on Friday, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said it had received reports of adults in the community deterring teenagers from coming forward.

Public information officer Angela Musallam said if those reports proved true, they were actively impeding the investigation.

“Our interest is not arresting, prosecuting, or holding any individuals accountable for any underage drinking or illegal drug that did occur at the Prosser Family Campground,” Ms Musullam said.

“Our sole purpose in this investigation and search is to bring Kiely home to her family.”

Friend recounts final call before Kiely’s disappearance

05:01 , Megan Sheets

A friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni has spoken about the pair’s final phone call before her friend vanished from a campground party in California.

Samantha Smith, 18, told The Independent on Monday she was the last person to speak with 16-year-old Kiely after midnight on Saturday.

“This is the last call anybody had with her. We said ‘love you, good night. Get home safe,’ and that’s the last thing we heard of her,” Samantha said on Monday.

Investigators said they have no information about Kiely’s whereabouts after 12.33am.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has the full story:

Exclusive: Friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni recounts last call before she vanished

Kiely’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party

02:00 , Megan Sheets

The mother of Kiely Rodni has revealed that her daughter almost didn’t go to the campground party the night she disappeared as she issued a gut-wrenching plea to local teenagers to help “piece together” what happened.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman spoke to The Independent on Thursday as the search for her missing 16-year-old daughter entered its fifth day and investigators are no closer to getting answers as to her whereabouts.

She said that Kiely had planned to go to a car show in Reno with her mother on Friday night but texted her during the day to say that she was going to go to a party at the Prosser Family Campground instead.

Ms Rodni-Nieman said she wishes Kiely had never gone to the party that night and had joined her at the car show that night. But she said thinking like that is “not helpful”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party on night she vanished

RECAP: Everything we know about Kiely’s disappearance

Sunday 14 August 2022 00:00 , Megan Sheets

A desperate search continues for 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who vanished from a party at a northern California campground on 5 August.

Kiely was last seen around 12.30am on Saturday (6 August) near the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

She is described as white, 5’7” tall, and 115 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She has numerous piercings and jewelry, including a nose ring, and was last seen wearing green Dickies pants and a black tank top.

The FBI, Homeland Security, California Highway Patrol and several other local law enforcement agencies have joined the Placer Sheriff’s Office in the search for Kiley. Hundreds of investigators and K-9 units are searching for Kiely, but no leads have emerged that could possibly indicate what happened to her after the party.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has the full story:

Everything we know about 16-year-old Kiely Rodni’s disappearance

Kiely’s best friend says she ‘just wants her back’

Saturday 13 August 2022 22:00 , Megan Sheets

Kiely’s best friend Magdalene Larson has said she “just wants her back” as the search entered its sixth day.

“I just want her to come back and be OK and just to know that she’s loved and that we all looked for her and that we all loved her through this and stuff,” she told KCRA3.

Ms Larson described her best friend as “such a vibrant person” with “so much energy”.

The two best friends met briefly aged nine at an art camp but became close a few years later when their mother’s became friends.

“My parents decided that we’re going to hang out and that I was going to be friends with their daughter and that’s just what happened,” she said.

It was when they went on a three-hour walk together one day that their friendship was cemented and they have been best friends since.

Loved ones using app to track search for Kiely

Saturday 13 August 2022 20:00 , Megan Sheets

Volunteers helping with the search for Kiely have been using an app to track their movements around the heavily-wooded region.

The app called Caltopo allows searchers to map out what ground they’ve covered and share that information with fellow volunteers and law enforcement, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Kiely’s family set up an RV site where volunteers from across the state can convene to join the search.

GoFundMe to increase reward surpasses $40k

Saturday 13 August 2022 18:00 , Megan Sheets

A GoFundMe campaign for Kiely’s safe return has surpassed $40,000 as of Saturday morning.

The campaign set up by the teen’s friends aims to increase the reward for information surrounding her disappearance.

More than 300 people have donated toward the $150,000 fundraising goal.

The official reward being offered by police is currently set at $50,000.

Kiely honoured at fundraising event

Saturday 13 August 2022 16:00 , Megan Sheets

A musical fundraising event in Kiely’s honour is set to take place on Saturday as the search for the teen drags on into its second week.

“Kountry for Kiely” will be held at Truckee Regional Park from 1pm to 4pm.

“In gratitude, we honor and love the support from our amazing teens and community at large that have been on the front lines of this crisis since day one,” a flyer for the event states.

“Team Kiely is strong. Wear white in solidarity. Let’s bring our girl home.”

 (findkiely.com)
(findkiely.com)

Search for Kiely expanding over the weekend

Saturday 13 August 2022 13:59 , Megan Sheets

As the search for Kiely Rodni enters its second week, authorities say they are ramping up efforts by expanding the search area and putting more personnel on the ground.

The investigation into Kiely’s disappearance began one week ago on 6 August when her mother realised the teen never returned from the campground party she attended the night before.

Angela Musallam, the public information officer for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday said “more searchers” would be brought in over the weekend as authorities “expand” their search around the Prosser Family Campground.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the dedicated tip line at 530-581-6320.

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party

Saturday 13 August 2022 13:00 , Rachel Sharp

The mother of Kiely Rodni has revealed that her daughter almost didn’t go to the campground party the night she disappeared as she issued a gut-wrenching plea to local teenagers to help “piece together” what happened.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman spoke to The Independent on Thursday as the search for her missing 16-year-old daughter entered its fifth day and investigators are no closer to getting answers as to her whereabouts.

She said that Kiely had planned to go to a car show in Reno with her mother on Friday night but texted her during the day to say that she was going to go to a party at the Prosser Family Campground instead.

Ms Rodni-Nieman said she wishes Kiely had never gone to the party that night and had joined her at the car show that night. But she said thinking like that is “not helpful”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party on night she vanished

Boyfriend of Kiely Rodni reveals last messages before she vanished

Saturday 13 August 2022 11:00 , Rachel Sharp

The boyfriend of Kiely Rodni has broken his silence to reveal the last conversation he had with her before she vanished without a trace at a campground party – as the search for the missing teenager now enters its fifth day.

Jagger Westfall texted his 16-year-old girlfriend to tell her to “be safe” and “don’t do anything stupid” on Friday night as she headed to a senior farewell party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, California.

“And so I was just like, OK. Be safe. Don’t like, do anything stupid,” he told KTXL.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s boyfriend breaks silence as search enters fifth day for missing teen

Kiely sent last text to her mother at 11.30pm on Friday

Saturday 13 August 2022 09:00 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely Rodni last sent a final text to her mother at 11.30pm on Friday night.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman told The Independent on Thursday that she last saw her daughter that morning when she came downstairs in their home and mother and daughter chatted about their plans for the day.

They then stayed in contact throughout the day and last spoke at around 11.30pm that night when Kiely texted to say she would be setting off on the 25-30 minute drive home from the party.

“She said she’d be leaving at 12.15 and was going to start heading home,” said Ms Rodni-Nieman.

That was the last time she heard from her daughter.

Fight at party believed to be unconnected to Kiely’s disappearance

Saturday 13 August 2022 07:00 , Rachel Sharp

It has emerged that a fight broke out at the party at Prosser Family Campground on the night of 6 August – but that officials do not believe it is connected to Kiely’s disappearance.

In Thursday’s press conference, Placer County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Josh Barnhart mentioned the fight at the party.

While investigators do not believe it has any connection to Kiely going missing, Lt Barnhart said that people recorded the fight and so investigators want to see the footage to see if it holds any clues.

Teens and young adults who attended the party were urged to send the videos to law enforcement and were also told that – if they are concerned about coming forward with information about the missing persons case – they should go to a person they trust and have them take the information to law enforcement.

This comes as officials have repeatedly urged teens to come forward, reassuring them that they are disinterested in investigating underage drinking and just want to bring Kiely home safe.

Public urged to look out for Kiely’s jewellery

Saturday 13 August 2022 05:00 , Rachel Sharp

Law enforcement officials have urged the public to keep a look out for jewellery that Kiely Rodni is believed to have been wearing when she disappeared.

Authorities shared a recent photo of the 16-year-old wearing a string of gold necklaces. She is believed to have been wearing the same necklaces on 6 August when she went to the campground party.

Anyone who has/may have seen her necklaces is asked to call the tip line at (530) 581-6320 Option 7, or email the tip portal - sheriff_tahoeinvesttips@placer.ca.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Kiely Rodni is believed to have been wearing these necklaces when she disappeared (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
Kiely Rodni is believed to have been wearing these necklaces when she disappeared (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)

New system launched to upload tips

Saturday 13 August 2022 04:00 , Rachel Sharp

A new system has been launched for members of the public to upload tips about the disappearance of Kiely Rodni.

Law enforcement officials announced on Friday that they have “created a central location for the community to upload tips and help us find Kiely”.

Anyone with information including photos and videos from the party can upload them anonymously at: https://linktr.ee/placersheriff

Friend recounts final call before her disappearance

Saturday 13 August 2022 03:00 , Rachel Sharp

A friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni has spoken about the pair’s final phone call before her friend vanished from a campground party in California.

Samantha Smith, 18, told The Independent on Monday she was the last person to speak with 16-year-old Kiely after midnight on Saturday.

“This is the last call anybody had with her. We said ‘love you, good night. Get home safe,’ and that’s the last thing we heard of her,” Samantha said on Monday.

Investigators said they have no information about Kiely’s whereabouts after 12.33am.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has the full story:

Exclusive: Friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni recounts last call before she vanished

Everything we know about the disappearance of Kiely Rodni

Saturday 13 August 2022 02:00 , Rachel Sharp

A desperate search continues for 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who vanished from a party at a northern California campground on 5 August.

Kiely was last seen around 12.30am on Saturday (6 August) near the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

She is described as white, 5’7” tall, and 115 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She has numerous piercings and jewelry, including a nose ring, and was last seen wearing green Dickies pants and a black tank top.

The FBI, Homeland Security, California Highway Patrol and several other local law enforcement agencies have joined the Placer Sheriff’s Office in the search for Kiley. Hundreds of investigators and K-9 units are searching for Kiely, but no leads have emerged that could possibly indicate what happened to her after the party.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has the full story:

Everything we know about 16-year-old Kiely Rodni’s disappearance

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party

Saturday 13 August 2022 01:15 , Rachel Sharp

The mother of Kiely Rodni has revealed that her daughter almost didn’t go to the campground party the night she disappeared as she issued a gut-wrenching plea to local teenagers to help “piece together” what happened.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman spoke to The Independent on Thursday as the search for her missing 16-year-old daughter entered its fifth day and investigators are no closer to getting answers as to her whereabouts.

She said that Kiely had planned to go to a car show in Reno with her mother on Friday night but texted her during the day to say that she was going to go to a party at the Prosser Family Campground instead.

Ms Rodni-Nieman said she wishes Kiely had never gone to the party that night and had joined her at the car show that night. But she said thinking like that is “not helpful”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party on night she vanished

Boyfriend of Kiely Rodni reveals last conversation before she vanished

Saturday 13 August 2022 00:30 , Rachel Sharp

The boyfriend of Kiely Rodni has broken his silence to reveal the last conversation he had with her before she vanished without a trace at a campground party – as the search for the missing teenager now enters its fifth day.

Jagger Westfall texted his 16-year-old girlfriend to tell her to “be safe” and “don’t do anything stupid” on Friday night as she headed to a senior farewell party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, California.

“And so I was just like, OK. Be safe. Don’t like, do anything stupid,” he told KTXL.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s boyfriend breaks silence as search enters fifth day for missing teen

Kiely’s best friend says she ‘just wants her back’

Friday 12 August 2022 23:45 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely’s best friend Magdalene Larson has said she “just wants her back” as the search entered its sixth day.

“I just want her to come back and be OK and just to know that she’s loved and that we all looked for her and that we all loved her through this and stuff,” she told KCRA3.

Ms Larson described her best friend as “such a vibrant person” with “so much energy”.

The two best friends met briefly aged nine at an art camp but became close a few years later when their mother’s became friends.

“My parents decided that we’re going to hang out and that I was going to be friends with their daughter and that’s just what happened,” she said.

It was when they went on a three-hour walk together one day that their friendship was cemented and they have been best friends since.

No leads as search enters sixth day

Friday 12 August 2022 23:09 , Andrea Blanco

On Friday, police said they have no new leads in the case despite having assigned 200 personnel on the case and employed 9,000 man-hours in searches.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Angela Musullam urged the community to report anything that might help the investigation.

“Tips have not slowed down. They’re pouring in every single hour. Unfortunately, most leads have not panned out and have not been fruitful.

Locals are encouraged to anonymously send tips

Friday 12 August 2022 22:47 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities have created an online portal where the community can anonymously upload pictures and videos that could help in the investigation.

“It is a completely confidential way to receive pictures, videos from the Prosser Family Campground party,” spokesperson Angela Musullam said.

Police is asking anyone who has information to call (530) 581-6320, option 7, or email tips online at sheriff_tahoeinvesttips@placer.ca.gov.

Adults are discouraging teens from coming forward with information about the party, police say

Friday 12 August 2022 22:26 , Andrea Blanco

During a press conference on Friday, The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said it had received reports of adults in the community deterring teenagers from coming forward.

Public information officer Angela Musallam said if those reports proved true, they were actively impeding the investigation.

“Our interest is not arresting, prosecuting, or holding any individuals accountable for any underage drinking or illegal drug that did occur at the Prosser Family Campground,” Ms Musullam said.

“Our sole purpose in this investigation and search is to bring Kiely home to her family.”

Press conference starting soon to provide update on case

Friday 12 August 2022 21:45 , Rachel Sharp

A press conference is being held at 2pm local time (5pm ET) on Friday at the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District in Truckee to provide an update on the case.

A separate community meeting will then be held later at 5.30pm local time in the same location.

Check back for more details.

GoFundMe to increase reward money tops $38,000

Friday 12 August 2022 21:25 , Rachel Sharp

A GoFundMe launched to increase the reward money for information that helps in the search for Kiely Rodni has now topped $38,000.

The campaign reached $38,010 as of Friday afternoon local time.

“With the consent of Kiely’s parents, I am starting this gofundme to help increase the reward for her return,” writes organiser Amie Quirarte.

“We hope this will encourage more people to come forward with any information that can help bring this sweet girl home. Right now, the reward is $5,000. Let’s get that number higher and bring her home. Please consider donating!”

A reward of $50,000 is already being offered for information that helps lead to the missing teen. The GoFundMe was launched to increase the reward.

Local businesses share fliers to try to find missing teen

Friday 12 August 2022 21:05 , Rachel Sharp

Local businesses in Downtown Truckee have been sharing fliers and putting up posters in their windows to try to help find the missing teen.

Lisa Gotts, owner of California 89 Home, told local outlet KOLO that it was important to spread the word.

”It’s so important that there’s as much knowledge out there that she’s missing and anything we can do to help,” she said.

”We’ve also posted on social media, on our stories, like I have seen so many in the local community doing.”

Her son has gone to parties at Prosser Family Campground in the past, she said. The campground was the last known location of Kiely Rodni at around 12.30am on Saturday.

”You know he used to go out to Prosser and go to parties out there and I’ve had long conversations with him about it and it’s just heart wrenching,” she said.

Campground was popular for teenage parties

Friday 12 August 2022 20:45 , Rachel Sharp

The Prosser Family Campground is a popular hangout spot for local teenagers and is seen as a “safe space” for young people, Kiely’s mother’s Lindsey Rodni-Nieman has revealed.

Teenagers have partied and hung out at the campground going back decades and Kiely had been to several parties there before Friday.

“It feels like a safe place. Like a neighbourhood backyard,” Ms Rodni-Nieman told The Independent.

“It’s a couple of miles out of town and is just this open space with reservoirs and camping and dirt roads. Lots of people go riding dirt bikes or hiking and it’s a community space.”

What was different that night was that the party was “very large” with teens from different schools all over the region descending there.

“There’s not generally so many people there. That’s what made it unusual,” said Kiely’s mother.

Officials have said that around 200 to 300 teenagers and young adults gathered for the party that night.

Public urged to look out for Kiely’s jewellery

Friday 12 August 2022 20:25 , Rachel Sharp

Law enforcement officials have urged the public to keep a look out for jewellery that Kiely Rodni is believed to have been wearing when she disappeared.

Authorities shared a recent photo of the 16-year-old wearing a string of gold necklaces. She is believed to have been wearing the same necklaces on 6 August when she went to the campground party.

Anyone who has/may have seen her necklaces is asked to call the tip line at (530) 581-6320 Option 7, or email the tip portal - sheriff_tahoeinvesttips@placer.ca.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Kiely Rodni is believed to have been wearing these necklaces when she disappeared (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
Kiely Rodni is believed to have been wearing these necklaces when she disappeared (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)

Kiely’s mother said she wishes she never went to party

Friday 12 August 2022 20:05 , Rachel Sharp

The mother of Kiely Rodni has said she wishes her daughter never went to the campground party the night she disappeared.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman toldThe Independent on Thursday that Kiely had planned to go to a car show in Reno with her last Friday night but texted her during the day to say that she was going to go to a party at the Prosser Family Campground instead.

“There was this classic car show in Reno – she’s so dynamic she loves everything from playing the violin to car shows – and so she was maybe going to see some drag races with us there,” she said.

The mother and daughter talked about the plan on Friday morning – the last time they saw each other.

“Later that day, Kailee then texted saying she was going to go to a party instead of going to the car show. She’d been to the car show already and there was this party in Prosser,” said her mother.

“I said ‘yeah that’s fine, of course you can go to the party’.”

While she thinks about how things would be different if Kiely had joined her at the car show that night, she said “it’s not helpful”.

“There’s a Willie Nelson song that ‘I’ve got a long list of real good reasons, for all the things I’ve done… And regret is just a memory written on my brow. And there’s nothing I can do about it now’,” she said.

“It’s not helpful [to think about that]. What is helpful is to pray and keep the faith that we’ll be seeing her soon and keep the faith that whoever knows something is going to find the courage to come forward and share their information.”

New system launched to upload tips

Friday 12 August 2022 19:45 , Rachel Sharp

A new system has been launched for members of the public to upload tips about the disappearance of Kiely Rodni.

Law enforcement officials announced on Friday that they have “created a central location for the community to upload tips and help us find Kiely”.

Anyone with information including photos and videos from the party can upload them anonymously at: https://linktr.ee/placersherif

Volunteers urged to be careful not to disturb evidence

Friday 12 August 2022 19:25 , Rachel Sharp

Volunteers have been urged to be careful not to disturb possible evidence as they join the search for the missing teen.

Speaking at a community meeting on Thursday, officials said they don’t have any specific areas closed to the public as part of the search and don’t have one particular area of focus.

While much of the search has so far centred on the campground where the party took place, teams have now expanded to roads and lakes all around the area.

As a result, officials cautioned people to be “careful” and “conscious” not to disturb anything that could help lead to finding Kiely.

“A footprint could be important, a tyre track could be important... be conscious where you’re searching,” an official said.

Almost 900 tips received in missing persons case

Friday 12 August 2022 19:05 , Rachel Sharp

Almost 900 tips have been received so far in the six days since Kiely Rodni vanished without a trace.

A total of 204 personnel from 16 different law enforcement agencies including the FBI have joined in the search and worked for a combined 9,228 hours to try to track down the missing teen.

Despite the vast efforts, investigators have been unable to track down Kiely’s whereabouts – or her car – after 12.33am on Saturdaty morning.

How to anonymously give tips

Friday 12 August 2022 18:45 , Rachel Sharp

Anyone who may have any information about Kiely is highly encouraged to submit tips online at sheriff_tahoeinvesttips@placer.ca.gov or through the dedicated tip line: (530) 581-6320 Option 7.

If anyone believes they have photos or videos that may assist authorities with the investigation in locating Kiely, they are asked to submit them here: https://placersheriff.app.box.com/.../0c30cd16cff04e07baf...

Officials have reiterated that tipsters can remain anonymous.

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party night she vanished

Friday 12 August 2022 18:25 , Rachel Sharp

The mother of Kiely Rodni has revealed that her daughter almost didn’t go to the campground party the night she disappeared as she issued a gut-wrenching plea to local teenagers to help “piece together” what happened.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman spoke to The Independent on Thursday as the search for her missing 16-year-old daughter entered its fifth day and investigators are no closer to getting answers as to her whereabouts.

She said that Kiely had planned to go to a car show in Reno with her mother on Friday night but texted her during the day to say that she was going to go to a party at the Prosser Family Campground instead.

Ms Rodni-Nieman said she wishes Kiely had never gone to the party that night and had joined her at the car show that night. But she said thinking like that is “not helpful”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party on night she vanished

Kiely Rodni’s mother defends law enforcement over Amber Alert

Friday 12 August 2022 18:05 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely Rodni’s mother has defended the efforts of law enforcement and urged people not to focus on the lack of an Amber Alert in her daughter’s case.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman spoke at a community meeting on Thursday night.

Questions have mounted around why an Amber Alert was not issued for the missing teen.

Officials have said they agree with the public on the issue but – under state law – the case does not meet the criteria for an alert as there is no evidence Kiely was abducted.

“This Amber Alert thing, it was frustrating,” said Ms Rodni-Nieman.

Pointing to the law enforcement officials on stage, she said that “they share our frustration”.

“There is no one behind me right now that doesn’t agree an Amber Alert should have been issued immediately.”

She continued: “But to focus on what is right isn’t helpful and doesn’t move forward… the lack of any movement forward is not for a lack of resource or want or determination from everyone who stands behind me. Let’s focus on asking questions that lead to positive results.”

She said that the issue around the Amber Alert system could be an opportunity for change.

“Maybe we can use this opportunity to… maybe go to the state legislature that may be more effective in changing that,” she said.

“Even if it doesn’t change it today or tomorrow or for Kiely at all maybe it can change it for someone else…

Authorities were never called to party

Friday 12 August 2022 17:45 , Rachel Sharp

Authorities received no calls for service to the Prosser Family Campground on the night of the party, officials said at a community meeting on Thursday evening.

There was reportedly a fight at the party last Friday night but authorities believe it was unconnected to Kiely’s disappearance.

Authorities have also acknowledged reports of possible underage drinking and drugs but insist they are not interested in investigating that.

“We don’t care.  We just want to find Kiely,” an official said.

Press conference scheduled for 2pm local time

Friday 12 August 2022 17:25 , Rachel Sharp

Another press conference will be held at 2pm local time (5pm ET) on Friday at the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District in Truckee.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office announced the briefing on Friday morning, revealing that the search had continued to yield answers about Kiely’s whereabouts.

“Over the past six days, we have utilized many local, state, and federal law enforcement resources to help locate Kiely. Search teams from across the state are still thoroughly searching on the ground, in the air, and in the water – currently, we only have information on Kiely’s last known location before she went missing,” the statement said.

“Detectives are still following up on several hundred leads and conducting interviews in hopes of locating Kiely and her vehicle.”

A separate community meeting will be held at 5.30pm local time in the same location.

Lack of information about where car was parked at party

Friday 12 August 2022 17:05 , Rachel Sharp

Six days on from her disappearance, authorities are still struggling to piece together details about where exactly Kiely Rodni’s car was last seen at the campground party.

Investigators were asked at a community meeting on Thursday night where Kiely’s car – a silver 2013 Honda CRV – was parked at the Prosser Family Campground on 6 August and what other vehicles were parked near it.

Officials said that was one of the details they were still “trying to piece together”.

“That question is on a list of about a thousand others we have,” they said.

Investigators going door to door for footage of Kiely

Friday 12 August 2022 16:45 , Rachel Sharp

Investigators have been going door to door in the local community to try to find any possible footage of Kiely Rodni’s movements.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Josh Barnhart said at a community meeting on Thursday night that authorities are collecting videos and photos from both people at the campground party and from surveillance footage and doorbell cameras in the surrounding areas.

“We are continuing to collect media from every source – video, photos, people at party are coming in so we can use data from their phones,” he said.

“The FBI and detectives are going door to door collecting data and Ring camera videos... [footage] from gas stations etc... cameras at intersections.”

Authorities urged people to share any footage or photos that could help in the investigation and to come forward with any information.

Anyone with information is asked to email Sheriff_TahoeInvest@placer.ca.gov, contact Detective Stephanie Frykberg at (530) 392-5609, or call the anonymous tip line at (530) 581-6320.

The last known contact from Kiely Rodni

Friday 12 August 2022 16:25 , Rachel Sharp

The last time Kiely Rodni was accounted for was at 12.33am on Saturday morning, with no known contact from or sightings of the missing teen for more than six days.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Josh Barnhart confirmed the timing at a community meeting on Thursday night.

“12.33am was the last known time that we have for Kiely,” he said.

“Anything after that we have not been able to find. And so please again we urge and beg you, if you were there and you know something please come forward and give us that information so we can continue our investigation past 12.33.”

Boyfriend of Kiely Rodni reveals last conversation before she vanished

Friday 12 August 2022 16:09 , Rachel Sharp

The boyfriend of Kiely Rodni has broken his silence to reveal the last conversation he had with her before she vanished without a trace at a campground party – as the search for the missing teenager now enters its fifth day.

Jagger Westfall texted his 16-year-old girlfriend to tell her to “be safe” and “don’t do anything stupid” on Friday night as she headed to a senior farewell party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, California.

“And so I was just like, OK. Be safe. Don’t like, do anything stupid,” he told KTXL.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s boyfriend breaks silence as search enters fifth day for missing teen

Mother says ‘nothing out of the ordinary’ day Kiely vanished

Friday 12 August 2022 15:45 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely’s mother Lindsey Rodni-Nieman told The Independent that there was “nothing out of the ordinary” with her daughter on the day she vanished without a trace.

It was just like any normal day, she said, as mother and daughter chatted about their plans for Friday in their family home that morning.

“It was ‘morning, hi, love you’ and talking about plans for the day – just a little check-in as normal,” said Ms Rodni-Nieman.

“She was going to see some friends and maybe go to the gym… We also talked about her plans to go camping the following night. And then we said ‘have a great day and love you’.”

She said: “She did not seem out of the ordinary at all.

“Everything seemed the same, she had a big smile on her face and she was ready to greet the day. She was having a good day and week and was excited about going camping the following night. We had a great exchange.”

The mother and daughter stayed in contact throughout the day and last spoke at around 11.30pm that night when Kiely texted to say she would be setting off on the 25-30 minute drive home from the party.

“She said she’d be leaving at 12.15 and was going to start heading home,” said Ms Rodni-Nieman.

That was the last time she heard from her daughter.

Despite 500 tips investigators still lack clues

Friday 12 August 2022 15:25 , Rachel Sharp

Despite hundreds of tips pouring in from the public, investigators appear to be no further forward in locating the missing teen.

On Thursday, Placer County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the multi-agency taskforce working on the case had received more than 500 tips since Kiely was reported missing on Saturday morning.

Some tips have come from outside of California and investigators are following up on more than 380 leads.

However, investigators are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in tracking down the missing teen.

Nevada County Sheriff Captain Sam Brown said in Thursday’s press conference that “we are still lacking clues” and that they don’t have “an exact spot” around which to focus the search.

He admitted that was “unusual” especially when the teen’s 2013 Silver Honda CRV is also missing.

Authorities activated CodeRed emergency alert

Friday 12 August 2022 15:05 , Rachel Sharp

Authorities in California have activated the CodeRed emergency alert as the search continues for Kiely Rodni.

Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Captain Sam Brown announced the alert had been launched at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

“We have about an 80 percent enrollment for Nevada County, so out of our 100,000 residents, that message should hit about 80,000 residents,” he said.

“We have other countries that are even asking and wanting to talk to the family, so there’s support, I think because people feel like they could be even in this same situation themselves. We just want word out so that more eyes are out because we don’t have an exact spot to look for, and that is unusual — especially with a large object like a car.”

An Amber Alert has not been issued for the missing teen because officials said the case does not meet the criteria because there is no evidence that she was abducted.

Police shut down online rumours

Friday 12 August 2022 14:45 , Rachel Sharp

Investigators were forced to shut down false rumours that circulated online claiming that Kiely had been spotted.

Audio alleged to be from a police scanner was posted online on Thursday, reporting a possible sighting of the missing teen and her car.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office responded to the rumours confirming that they were “untrue”.

Kiely Rodni’s mother refuses to give up hope

Friday 12 August 2022 14:25 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely Rodni’s mother said she is refusing to let herself think of the worst possible scenario but said that not knowing what has happened to her daughter is “a very difficult place” to be in.

Lindsey-Rodni-Nieman told The Independent on Thursday: “The mind reels and I think that our imagination is our best asset and our worst enemy and I don’t want to give power to any of my worst thoughts by speaking them out and making them words.”

The family is just holding onto hope that “one day this is a memory and when that day comes she’ll be back with us”, she said.

Kiely’s best friend says she ‘just wants her back’

Friday 12 August 2022 14:05 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely’s best friend Magdalene Larson has said she “just wants her back” as the search entered its sixth day.

“I just want her to come back and be OK and just to know that she’s loved and that we all looked for her and that we all loved her through this and stuff,” she told KCRA3.

Ms Larson described her best friend as “such a vibrant person” with “so much energy”.

The two best friends met briefly aged nine at an art camp but became close a few years later when their mother’s became friends.

“My parents decided that we’re going to hang out and that I was going to be friends with their daughter and that’s just what happened,” she said.

It was when they went on a three-hour walk together one day that their friendship was cemented and they have been best friends since.

Fight at party believed to be unconnected to Kiely’s disappearance

Friday 12 August 2022 13:45 , Rachel Sharp

It has emerged that a fight broke out at the party at Prosser Family Campground on the night of 6 August – but that officials do not believe it is connected to Kiely’s disappearance.

In Thursday’s press conference, Placer County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Josh Barnhart mentioned the fight at the party.

While investigators do not believe it has any connection to Kiely going missing, Lt Barnhart said that people recorded the fight and so investigators want to see the footage to see if it holds any clues.

Teens and young adults who attended the party were urged to send the videos to law enforcement and were also told that – if they are concerned about coming forward with information about the missing persons case – they should go to a person they trust and have them take the information to law enforcement.

This comes as officials have repeatedly urged teens to come forward, reassuring them that they are disinterested in investigating underage drinking and just want to bring Kiely home safe.

Investigators urge public to keep lookout for Kiely’s jewellery

Friday 12 August 2022 13:25 , Rachel Sharp

Police have released pictures of the jewellery Kiely Rodni appeared to be wearing at the time of her disappearance.

During a press conference on Thursday, Placer County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Angela Musallam urged the public to contact authorities if they come across a gold chain Kiely is believed to have been wearing back on 6 August.

“We’re told she always wears this type of jewellery … We’d want anybody who comes across [this necklace] to please contact us immediately because this would certainly provide us a new tip, and a new direction,” Ms Musallam said during the press conference.

Officials did not reveal why they are honing in on the items of jewellery after they have spent days combing the land and waterways for signs of the teen and her missing car.

Kiely Rodni’s father breaks down, says ‘this is your kids’

Friday 12 August 2022 13:04 , Shweta Sharma

Daniel Rodni, the father of missing teen Kiely Rodni, got emotional as he urged people of the community to approach investigators with information about his daughter to come forward.

“She is no longer just our daughter. This is your kids,” he said.

“These are the parties that your kids are going to,’ he said. “We need answers, and you need answers because when your kids turn 16, where are they going to go?… Kiely is your child, too.”

Her mother described Kiely as a “funny and smart” girl who has an interest in playing music.

“She has since she was a little girl. She loves — of course, being a teenager — she loves being with her friends. She’s so interested in science and in medicine and in cooking,” Rodni’s mother said.

“She taught herself how to make chocolate cakes from scratch when she was young, and they’re actually good.”

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party

Friday 12 August 2022 13:00 , Rachel Sharp

The mother of Kiely Rodni has revealed that her daughter almost didn’t go to the campground party the night she disappeared as she issued a gut-wrenching plea to local teenagers to help “piece together” what happened.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman spoke to The Independent on Thursday as the search for her missing 16-year-old daughter entered its fifth day and investigators are no closer to getting answers as to her whereabouts.

She said that Kiely had planned to go to a car show in Reno with her mother on Friday night but texted her during the day to say that she was going to go to a party at the Prosser Family Campground instead.

Ms Rodni-Nieman said she wishes Kiely had never gone to the party that night and had joined her at the car show that night. But she said thinking like that is “not helpful”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party on night she vanished

Missing teen's mother says Amber Alert ‘should have been issued immediately’

Friday 12 August 2022 12:51 , Shweta Sharma

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman, the mother of the missing teen, has said an Amber Alert should have been issued immediately after Kiely Rodni went missing on 6 August at 12.30am.

Speaking to members of the community and a group of law enforcement officers at a town meeting, Ms Rodni-Nieman said: “The Amber Alert should have already been issued immediately.”

“Please understand that the lack of any information, the lack of any new movement forward with this case, is not for a lack of resources, it’s not for a lack of want, it’s not for a lack of determination from everyone who I’m looking at,” she said, according to Fox news.

“…So let’s work together and let’s focus on asking questions that will lead to positive results.”

Investigators have not issued an Amber Alert for Rodni yet, citing a lack of evidence confirming that the teenager was abducted.

Boyfriend of Kiely Rodni reveals last conversation before she vanished

Friday 12 August 2022 09:00 , Rachel Sharp

The boyfriend of Kiely Rodni has broken his silence to reveal the last conversation he had with her before she vanished without a trace at a campground party – as the search for the missing teenager now enters its fifth day.

Jagger Westfall texted his 16-year-old girlfriend to tell her to “be safe” and “don’t do anything stupid” on Friday night as she headed to a senior farewell party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, California.

“And so I was just like, OK. Be safe. Don’t like, do anything stupid,” he told KTXL.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s boyfriend breaks silence as search enters fifth day for missing teen

Friend recounts final call before her disappearance

Friday 12 August 2022 07:00 , Rachel Sharp

A friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni has spoken about the pair’s final phone call before her friend vanished from a campground party in California.

Samantha Smith, 18, told The Independent on Monday she was the last person to speak with 16-year-old Kiely after midnight on Saturday.

“At 12.36am she called me … and this is the last call anybody had with her. We said ‘love you, good night. Get home safe,’ and that’s the last thing we heard of her,” Samantha said on Monday.

Kiely was at a party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said. Because her vehicle, a silver 2013 Honda CRV, is missing, authorities are treating the incident as a possible abduction.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has the full story:

Exclusive: Friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni recounts last call before she vanished

Investigators release new images in search for the missing teen

Friday 12 August 2022 05:00 , Rachel Sharp

On Wednesday, investigators released two new photos to the public: one of Kiely’s missing silver 2013 Honda CRV and one of a hoodie she is believed to have borrowed at the party.

The black hoodie features the eerie Lana del Ray lyrics: “You don’t want to be forgotten. You want to disappear.”

“We don’t know whether Kiely was wearing that hoodie when she disappeared, but we believe it was still in her possession,” Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

Kiely had reportedly planned to drive herself and her friend Samantha Smith home from the party in her vehicle.

Ms Smith previously told The Independent that Kiely was drinking at the party and wouldn’t have been able to drive so they both told each other to “get home safe”.

Kiely’s car has not been found during the five-day search which has centred on the area around the campground where she was last seen.

The hoodie Kiely Rodni borrowed the night she vanished (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
The hoodie Kiely Rodni borrowed the night she vanished (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
Kiely Rodni’s 2013 silver Honda CRV which is also missing (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
Kiely Rodni’s 2013 silver Honda CRV which is also missing (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)

Kiely’s mother ‘knew something was wrong’

Friday 12 August 2022 04:00 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely’s mother said she “knew something was wrong” when she learned her daughter hadn’t come home on Friday night – as it was so out of character for her.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman told The Independent that she asked her daughter to wake her to let her know she was back home safe.

The teen had texted her at 11.30pm to say she was leaving the party soon.

“The thing I regret most is not waiting for her to get home,” she sobbed.

“I fell asleep. I asked her to wake me when she got home… but I didn’t notice until 8am the next morning.

“When I woke up and noticed she hadn’t woken me I first thought maybe my husband was still awake when she got back and so she didn’t wake me.

“But I jumped up and checked her car and it wasn’t there. I went to her room and she wasn’t there.”

Ms Rodni-Nieman checked her cellphone location data and found her cellphone was last at the campground where the party took place at 12.03am. She has since learned that Snapchat data shows her cellphone at the same location at around 12.30am.

“There was no question that this is so out of character that we needed to get a search going right away,” she said.

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party

Friday 12 August 2022 03:00 , Rachel Sharp

The mother of Kiely Rodni has revealed that her daughter almost didn’t go to the campground party the night she disappeared as she issued a gut-wrenching plea to local teenagers to help “piece together” what happened.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman spoke to The Independent on Thursday as the search for her missing 16-year-old daughter entered its fifth day and investigators are no closer to getting answers as to her whereabouts.

She said that Kiely had planned to go to a car show in Reno with her mother on Friday night but texted her during the day to say that she was going to go to a party at the Prosser Family Campground instead.

Ms Rodni-Nieman said she wishes Kiely had never gone to the party that night and had joined her at the car show that night. But she said thinking like that is “not helpful”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party on night she vanished

Campground was popular for teenage parties

Friday 12 August 2022 02:00 , Rachel Sharp

The Prosser Family Campground is a popular hangout spot for local teenagers and is seen as a “safe space” for young people, Kiely’s mother’s Lindsey Rodni-Nieman has revealed.

Teenagers have partied and hung out at the campground going back decades and Kiely had been to several parties there before Friday.

“It feels like a safe place. Like a neighbourhood backyard,” said Ms Rodni-Nieman.

“It’s a couple of miles out of town and is just this open space with reservoirs and camping and dirt roads. Lots of people go riding dirt bikes or hiking and it’s a community space.”

What was different that night was that the party was “very large” with teens from different schools all over the region descending there.

“There’s not generally so many people there. That’s what made it unusual,” said Kiely’s mother.

Officials have said that around 200 to 300 teenagers and young adults gathered for the party that night.

Boyfriend of Kiely Rodni reveals last conversation before she vanished

Friday 12 August 2022 01:30 , Rachel Sharp

The boyfriend of Kiely Rodni has broken his silence to reveal the last conversation he had with her before she vanished without a trace at a campground party – as the search for the missing teenager now enters its fifth day.

Jagger Westfall texted his 16-year-old girlfriend to tell her to “be safe” and “don’t do anything stupid” on Friday night as she headed to a senior farewell party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, California.

“And so I was just like, OK. Be safe. Don’t like, do anything stupid,” he told KTXL.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s boyfriend breaks silence as search enters fifth day for missing teen

Everything we know about the disappearance of Kiely Rodni

Friday 12 August 2022 01:00 , Rachel Sharp

A desperate search continues for 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who vanished from a party at a northern California campground on 5 August.

Kiely was last seen around 12.30am on Saturday (6 August) near the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

She is described as white, 5’7” tall, and 115 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She has numerous piercings and jewelry, including a nose ring, and was last seen wearing green Dickies pants and a black tank top.

The FBI, Homeland Security, California Highway Patrol and several other local law enforcement agencies have joined the Placer Sheriff’s Office in the search for Kiley. Hundreds of investigators and K-9 units are searching for Kiely, but no leads have emerged that could possibly indicate what happened to her after the party.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has the full story:

Everything we know about 16-year-old Kiely Rodni’s disappearance

Kiely sent last text to her mother at 11.30pm on Friday

Friday 12 August 2022 00:30 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely Rodni last sent a text to her mother at 11.30pm on Friday night.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman told The Independent that she last saw her daughter that morning when she came downstairs in their home and mother and daughter chatted about their plans for the day.

They then stayed in contact throughout the day and last spoke at around 11.30pm that night when Kiely texted to say she would be setting off on the 25-30 minute drive home from the party.

“She said she’d be leaving at 12.15 and was going to start heading home,” said Ms Rodni-Nieman.

That was the last time she heard from her daughter.

Friend recounts final call before her disappearance

Friday 12 August 2022 00:00 , Rachel Sharp

A friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni has spoken about the pair’s final phone call before her friend vanished from a campground party in California.

Samantha Smith, 18, told The Independent on Monday she was the last person to speak with 16-year-old Kiely after midnight on Saturday.

“At 12.36am she called me … and this is the last call anybody had with her. We said ‘love you, good night. Get home safe,’ and that’s the last thing we heard of her,” Samantha said on Monday.

Kiely was at a party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said. Because her vehicle, a silver 2013 Honda CRV, is missing, authorities are treating the incident as a possible abduction.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has the full story:

Exclusive: Friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni recounts last call before she vanished

Teen-to-teen meeting cancelled

Thursday 11 August 2022 23:30 , Rachel Sharp

A teen-to-teen meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon has been cancelled.

The website FindKiely.com, set up by her loved ones in the search for the missing teen, had previously announced that a meet-up would be held from 5pm to 7.30pm local time at local high school Incline Village High.

The meeting came as law enforcement and Kiely’s family have urged young people who attended the party to share any information no matter how big or small.

Several teen-to-teen meetups have taken place over the last few days with parents and law enforcement officers not present for the meeting in an effort to create a “safe space” for teens to speak out without fear.

On Thursday afternoon, the website said that the teen-to-teen meeting was cancelled.

“A peer is always available at Truckee Rec Center for peer-to-peer conversations,” the memo read.

There was no explanation about why it was cancelled but a community meeting is still going ahead at 5.30pm local time.

Community searching for Kiely can share their progress with law enforcement on an app

Thursday 11 August 2022 23:21 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities have created a system for community members who are going in the field and searching for Kiely to track their progress in certain areas.

“Our team was able to create a map that will allow teams in the community who are going out to track their tracks so we can monitor … if they [have] some information,” Sheriff Brown said during a press conference on Wednesday.

Nevada County Sheriff Sam Brown asked the public on Thursday to limit the posts and urged locals to especially take advantage of that resource.

Anonymous pictures or video of the party can also be submitted here.

Thursday 11 August 2022 23:00 , Andrea Blanco

A spokesperson for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said the local law enforcement department will continue requesting assistance from other agencies that wish to join the search.

“We will not leave any stone unturned. And we have requested the help of every agency who is willing to help, and that does include many local, regional, state, and federal agencies, and we’re very thankful for that help,” public information officer Angela Musallam said during a press conference on Thursday.

As of Thursday afternoon, at least seven agencies, including more than 220 personnel has been assigned to the investigation, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

No new leads in the investigation, police says

Thursday 11 August 2022 22:40 , Andrea Blanco

Amid no new leads on Thursday, law enforcement agencies assisting in the search encouraged the community to keep spreading the word about Kiely.

“We are trying to be strategic at things. This has grown into something that we didn’t anticipate on day one or two,” Nevada County Sheriff Sam Brown said during the presser.

Sheriff Brown said they’d be conducting more extensive searches to invigorate the investigation.

“We do searches all the time. Nevada County does probably 40 searches every year, but not to this extent and this long. They’re usually pretty successful. It’s pretty stressful for us and more so on the family. It’s hard to look at them and not have answers.”

Police release picture of Kiely’s jewelry

Thursday 11 August 2022 22:20 , Andrea Blanco

Police released a new picture of Kiely wearing a distinctive necklace that friends and family say she always wears.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Angela Musallam urged the public to contact authorities if they come across the gold chain while searching for Kiely.

“We’re told she always wears this type of jewelry … We’d want anybody who comes across [these necklaces] to please contact us immediately because this would certainly provide us a new tip, and a new direction,” Ms Musallam said during the press conference, KCRA 3 reported.

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party

Thursday 11 August 2022 21:41 , Rachel Sharp

The mother of Kiely Rodni has revealed that her daughter almost didn’t go to the campground party the night she disappeared as she issued a gut-wrenching plea to local teenagers to help “piece together” what happened.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman spoke to The Independent on Thursday as the search for her missing 16-year-old daughter entered its fifth day and investigators are no closer to getting answers as to her whereabouts.

She said that Kiely had planned to go to a car show in Reno with her mother on Friday night but texted her during the day to say that she was going to go to a party at the Prosser Family Campground instead.

Ms Rodni-Nieman said she wishes Kiely had never gone to the party that night and had joined her at the car show that night. But she said thinking like that is “not helpful”.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s mother reveals she almost didn’t go to camp party on night she vanished

Campground was popular for teenage parties

Thursday 11 August 2022 21:09 , Rachel Sharp

The Prosser Family Campground is a popular hangout spot for local teenagers and is seen as a “safe space” for young people, Kiely’s mother’s Lindsey Rodni-Nieman has revealed.

Teenagers have partied and hung out at the campground going back decades and Kiely had been to several parties there before Friday.

“It feels like a safe place. Like a neighbourhood backyard,” said Ms Rodni-Nieman.

“It’s a couple of miles out of town and is just this open space with reservoirs and camping and dirt roads. Lots of people go riding dirt bikes or hiking and it’s a community space.”

What was different that night was that the party was “very large” with teens from different schools all over the region descending there.

“There’s not generally so many people there. That’s what made it unusual,” said Kiely’s mother.

Officials have said that around 200 to 300 teenagers and young adults gathered for the party that night.

Everything we know about the disappearance of Kiely Rodni

Thursday 11 August 2022 20:44 , Rachel Sharp

A desperate search continues for 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who vanished from a party at a northern California campground on 5 August.

Kiely was last seen around 12.30am on Saturday (6 August) near the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

She is described as white, 5’7” tall, and 115 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She has numerous piercings and jewelry, including a nose ring, and was last seen wearing green Dickies pants and a black tank top.

The FBI, Homeland Security, California Highway Patrol and several other local law enforcement agencies have joined the Placer Sheriff’s Office in the search for Kiley. Hundreds of investigators and K-9 units are searching for Kiely, but no leads have emerged that could possibly indicate what happened to her after the party.

The Independent’s Andrea Blanco has the full story:

Everything we know about 16-year-old Kiely Rodni’s disappearance

Partygoers urged to come forward with any information

Thursday 11 August 2022 20:22 , Rachel Sharp

Officials and Kiely Rodni’s family members are urging partygoers to come forward with information – no matter how big or small.

Kiely’s mother Lindsey Rodni-Nieman issued a desperate appeal begging teens to help piece together what happened to her daughter as she believes someone must know something that could help.

“We are desperate for any other teens to come out and share the last pieces of the story that nobody seems to be able to piece together,” she told The Independent Thursday.

“If we could just have that piece of the story of who she did leave with, when, which way did she go. I’m imploring the teenagers and the parents of the teenagers.”

She added: “I do think that there are stories from that night that have not been told and I think that as soon as those people who have stories have courage to come forward and share it would be such a massive turning point and could help slingshot us forward.”

Ms Rodni-Nieman also urged “parents to beg their kids to share anything they know”.

Boyfriend says he taught her to ‘get out of sticky situations'

Thursday 11 August 2022 20:04 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely’s boyfriend Jagger Westfall said that both he and Kiely’s father had taught the teen to “to get out of sticky situations” and insisted that he believes she is “alive and well”.

“Her dad taught her a lot of stuff about like self defence, things like that,” he told KTXL.

“I taught her how to get out of sticky situations. I know that she’s smart. She wouldn’t do something that would definitely put her life at risk.

“I really need her back. I really just need to know that she’s safe, that’s all I need at this point, I really want to hug her again.”

He added: “I definitely feel like that in this current situation that she’s safe.

“I don’t know where she is. We don’t have anything to go off of at this point. But, I fully believe that she’s alive and well.”

Kiely’s mother says there was ‘nothing out of the ordinary’ on day of disappearance

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:41 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely’s mother has spoken out to say that there was “nothing out of the ordinary” with her daughter on the day she vanished.

Lindsey Rodni-Nieman told The Independent on Thursday that she last saw Kiely on Friday morning and spoke to her by text message that night, not long before her last known sighting.

It was just any normal day.

Kiely had come downstairs in their home that morning and mother and daughter chatted about their plans for the day.

“It was ‘Morning, hi, love you’ and talking about plans for the day – just a little check-in as normal,” said Ms Rodni-Nieman.

She said: “She did not seem out of the ordinary at all. Everything seemed the same, she had a big smile on her face and she was ready to greet the day. She was having a good day and week and was excited about going camping the following night. We had a great exchange.”

The mother and daughter last spoke to each other at around 11.30pm that night when Kiely texted her to say she would be leaving the party soon.

“She said she’d be leaving at 12.15 and was going to start heading home,” she said.

That was the last time Ms Rodni-Nieman heard from her daughter.

More than 500 tips received

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:20 , Rachel Sharp

Authorities have received more than 500 tips in the search for the missing teen, Placer County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday.

Multiple law enformcement agencies have been drafted in to help find Kiely Rodni with 224 personnel assigned to the case together working for over 7,030 hours.

Law enforcement to hold press conference later today

Thursday 11 August 2022 19:00 , Rachel Sharp

Law enforcement officials have annnounced that they will update the public and the media about the investigation later today.

A press conference will be held at 2 pm local time (5pm ET) on Thursday at the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District in Truckee.

In a statement announcing the briefing, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Sheriff’s Office sad that they continue to search for Kiely with numerous resources and agencies responding to help find the teen.

“Searchers from across the state continue their search on the ground, in the air, and in the water - so far, we only have information on Kiely’s last known location before she went missing,” the statement read.

“Detectives from local, state, and federal agencies continue to follow up on leads and conduct interviews in hopes of locating Kiely and her vehicle.”

A community meeting will also be held at 5.30pm local time at the centre.

GoFundMe to increase reward money tops $30,000

Thursday 11 August 2022 18:40 , Rachel Sharp

A GoFundMe launched to increase the reward money for information that helps in the search for Kiely Rodni has now topped $30,000.

The campaign reached $31,770 as of Thursday morning local time.

“With the consent of Kiely’s parents, I am starting this gofundme to help increase the reward for her return,” writes organiser Amie Quirarte.

“We hope this will encourage more people to come forward with any information that can help bring this sweet girl home. Right now, the reward is $5,000. Let’s get that number higher and bring her home. Please consider donating!”

Community rallies round family

Thursday 11 August 2022 18:23 , Rachel Sharp

As the search rumbles on with no answers as to Kiely’s whereabouts, her mother Lindsey Rodni-Neiman told The Independent that she is grateful for all the support from her loved ones and the local community.

Family members have travelled from all across the US to California to support her and join in the search.

But, as time ticks by, the nights and mornings are becoming especially hard.

“It’s the nights and mornings that are really difficult because we’re just at home and idle and it always feels better to be in action and be moving and doing something,” she said on Thursday morning.

“I’m so grateful my family is here to help and to breathe love and energy and distraction into the home… Then we go out into the world and the town and we’re surrounded by the love and support of the community.”

Close friends and community members gathered together for a vigil on Wednesday night, including her old violin teacher who played some of the teenager’s favourite songs.

Description of missing teen

Thursday 11 August 2022 18:00 , Rachel Sharp

Kiely Rodni, 16, is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 115 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

She has a nose ring, a tattoo of the number “17” on her ribs and has scars on her left arm and near her wrist from surgery.

She was last seen wearing a black spaghetti strap bodysuit, green Dickies pants with a black grommet belt, and black Vans.

Kiely is also believed to have in her possession a dark grey hoodie featuring the Lana del Ray lyrics: “You don’t want to be forgotten. You want to disappear.” Investigators believe she was loaned the item at the party.

No activity on Kiely Rodni’s cellphone since early hours of Saturday

Thursday 11 August 2022 17:40 , Rachel Sharp

Investigators have said that there has been no activity on Kiely Rodni’s cellphone since around 12.30am on Saturday morning.

Kiely’s mother Lindsey Rodni-Neiman told The Independent on Thursday that the family shared cellphone location data and that she could see her last location was the campground where the party took place. That was at 12.03am.

Snapchat data shows her cellphone at the same location at around 12.30am, she said.

This was around the same time that she was last seen at the party and when she last spoke with a friend – Samantha Smith – on the phone.

Police grow frustrated with lack of leads

Thursday 11 August 2022 17:01 , Rachel Sharp

Law enforcement officials are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of leads in the case as they revealed they are no closer to finding out what happened to the missing teen.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Josh Barnhart of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said there was “no new leads” multiple days into the search.

“We do not have any new leads, and that I can tell you is very frustrating for us,” he said.

Nevada County Sheriff’s Office captain Sam Brown said that they believe “someone knows” what happened to the 16-year-old.

“We believe that someone knows,” he said. “Someone saw her but they’re not coming forward.”

Boyfriend of Kiely Rodni breaks his silence to reveal last conversation before she vanished

Thursday 11 August 2022 16:35 , Rachel Sharp

The boyfriend of Kiely Rodni has broken his silence to reveal the last conversation he had with her before she vanished without a trace at a campground party – as the search for the missing teenager now enters its fifth day.

Jagger Westfall texted his 16-year-old girlfriend to tell her to “be safe” and “don’t do anything stupid” on Friday night as she headed to a senior farewell party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, California.

“And so I was just like, OK. Be safe. Don’t like, do anything stupid,” he told KTXL.

The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:

Kiely Rodni’s boyfriend breaks silence as search enters fifth day for missing teen

Kiely’s loved ones believe she is no longer in California

Thursday 11 August 2022 16:15 , Rachel Sharp

Some of Kiely Rodni’s loved ones believe that the 16-year-old is no longer in California and could have crossed state lines into Nevada.

While law enforcement officials are carrying out a huge search around the campground where Kiely was last seen in the early hours of Saturday morning, Ms Rodni’s boyfriend Jagger Westfall and two of Kiely’s friends believe she might be in Reno – a city just across the California border into Nevada.

Mr Westfall told KTXL that the young couple would often go there to hang out together.

Friend Kate Cuno said that she had gone to Reno with Kiely and some other friends to have some fun one day before the doomed party.

The trio carried out their own search on Wednesday in the spots in Reno they often frequented with Kiely.

Mr Westfall said that they “fully believe that the two of us, three of us or other people are gonna bring her home safe”.

Investigators release new images in search for the missing teen

Thursday 11 August 2022 15:55 , Rachel Sharp

On Wednesday, investigators released two new photos to the public: one of Kiely’s missing silver 2013 Honda CRV and one of a hoodie she is believed to have borrowed at the party.

The black hoodie features the eerie Lana del Ray lyrics: “You don’t want to be forgotten. You want to disappear.”

“We don’t know whether Kiely was wearing that hoodie when she disappeared, but we believe it was still in her possession,” Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

Kiely had reportedly planned to drive herself and her friend Samantha Smith home from the party in her vehicle.

Ms Smith previously told The Independent that Kiely was drinking at the party and wouldn’t have been able to drive so they both told each other to “get home safe”.

Kiely’s car has not been found during the five-day search which has centred on the area around the campground where she was last seen.

The hoodie Kiely Rodni borrowed the night she vanished (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
The hoodie Kiely Rodni borrowed the night she vanished (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
Kiely Rodni’s 2013 silver Honda CRV which is also missing (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)
Kiely Rodni’s 2013 silver Honda CRV which is also missing (Placer County Sheriff’s Office)

Teen-to-teen meet-up scheduled for Thursday afternoon

Thursday 11 August 2022 15:36 , Rachel Sharp

A teen-to-teen meet-up will be held at local high school Incline Village High on Thursday afternoon as young people who attended the party are urged to share any information that could help in the search for Kiely Rodni.

The meetup will run from 5pm to 7.30pm local time.

According to the website FindKiely.com, set up by her loved ones in the search for the missing teen, the event is a “safe space” and will be teen-led with parents and law enforcement officers not present for the meeting.

“This is a space for anyone at the party who wants to come and share anything they remember. Any information is helpful,” the website states.

“This is a teen-led event & safe space for students to share Information from the Prosser party. Parents and LEO will not be inside for the gathering.”

Law enforcement officials have called on all teenagers who attended the party to come forward with any information no matter how big or small, reassuring them that they are not interested in investigating underage drinking or partying and just want to bring the missing teen home safe.

Kiely was in no state to drive

Thursday 11 August 2022 15:15 , Andrea Blanco

Kiely’s friend, Samantha, said that they had been drinking at the party and Kiely was evidently intoxicated.

“She was in no state to drive and she wouldn’t have made it far or would have crashed,” Samantha told The Independent on Monday.

She also told ABC that she had shared all drinks with Kiely.

“She was having fun at the party, just being a teenager,” she told the outlet. “Everything she drank, I drank out of.”

Exclusive: Friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni recounts last call before she vanished

Loved ones say she did not runaway

Thursday 11 August 2022 14:55 , Andrea Blanco

Kiely’s friends and family have reiterated the teenager had no reason to flee her hometown.

“The day of the party, I hung out with her,” Kate Cuno, Kiely’s friend, told local news station Fox40. “We made creme brulee. Everything was normal. I don’t think she ran away or anything.”

Kiely’s mother, Lindsay Rodni-Niema, has also said that it is out of caracther for her daughter to not communicate with her.

Kiely is thought to have been wearing a loaned hoodie before she vanished

Thursday 11 August 2022 14:35 , Andrea Blanco

Police had previously said that Kiely was last seen wearing green Dickies pants and a black tank top.

On Wednesday, authorities revealed Kiely was possibly wearing a black hoodie with flower patterns in the back that had been loaned to her before she disappeared.

The front of the hoodie read, “you don’t want to be forgotten, you just want to disappear.”

“We don’t know whether Kiely was wearing that hoodie when she disappeared, but we believe it was still in her possession,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement to SFGate.

Kiely’s family fear she’s been trafficked

Thursday 11 August 2022 14:14 , Andrea Blanco

Kiely’s loved ones are voicing their fears that the teenager could have possibly been abducted and trafficked by “sketchy, older guys” who were at the party.

“Now we know there were a lot of college people. Teens are coming out [with information] in our teen-to-teen talks. There were a lot of sketchy, older guys that were seen there,” Samantha Smith, Kiely’s friend, told The Sun.

“This was right about when I left when we had the last contact.”

Kiely’s boyfriend shares their final conversation

Thursday 11 August 2022 13:47 , Megan Sheets

Kiely’s boyfriend, Jagger Westfall, spoke to FOX40 on Wednesday, the fourth day of the massive search for the missing teen.

Jagger said he was texting Kiely before she set off for the senior farewell party at Prosser campground, the site where she was last seen.

He recalled texting her: “OK. Be safe. Don’t like, do anything stupid.”

Jagger said he went on to complain about his day and a few hours later she replied: “Oh, I’m sorry that you’re going through that.”

That message came in at 10.30pm - roughly two hours before her last known communication.

Everything we know about 16-year-old who vanished from camp party in California

Thursday 11 August 2022 11:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A desperate search continues for 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who vanished from a party at a northern California campground on 5 August.

Kiely was last seen around 12.30am on Saturday near the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.

She is described as white, 5’7” tall, and 115 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She has numerous piercings and jewelry, including a nose ring, and was last seen wearing green Dickies pants and a black tank top.

Watch: Message from Kiely Rodni’s parents to community

Thursday 11 August 2022 09:50 , Josh Marcus

Kiely Rodni’s parents recorded a video message to their daughter and the community at large earlier this week.

“Please just come home,” her mother, Lindsey Rodni-Nieman, said in the clip.

Watch the full message below, courtesy of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

GoFundMe raises $30,000 reward to aid Kiely Rodni search

Thursday 11 August 2022 08:50 , Josh Marcus

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $30,000 to be put towards a reward for those who help authorities locate missing California teen Kiely Rodni.

“With the consent of Kiely’s parents, I am starting this gofundme to help increase the reward for her return,” page creator Amie Quirarte wrote in a caption.

“We hope this will encourage more people to come forward with any information that can help bring this sweet girl home.”

Kiely Rodni’s friends launch site to raise awarness

Thursday 11 August 2022 07:50 , Josh Marcus

Kiely Rodni’s friends are organising to raise awareness about the missing teen.

In addition to hosting youth-only meetings, where students might feel freer to share evidence or recollections related to the night of the 16-year-old’s disappearance, they’ve also launched FindKiely.com as a news hub and portal to collect funds to support the investigation.

What was Kiely Rodni’s final message?

Thursday 11 August 2022 06:50 , Josh Marcus

A friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni has spoken about the pair’s final phone call before her friend vanished from a campground party in California.

Samantha Smith, 18, tells The Independent she was the last person to speak with 16-year-old Kiely after midnight on Saturday.

“At 12.36am she called me … and this is the last call anybody had with her. We said ‘love you, good night. Get home safe,’ and that’s the last thing we heard of her,” Samantha said on Monday.

Andrea Blanco has the full report.

Exclusive: Friend of missing teen Kiely Rodni recounts last call before she vanished

Sheriff’s office releases image of Kiely’s car

Thursday 11 August 2022 06:03 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday released an old image of Kiely Rodni’s 2013 silver Honda, which has been untraceable along with her.

Officials also shared a photo of a hoodie that Kiely had borrowed on 5 August, the day before she went missing.

“We don’t know whether Kiely was wearing that hoodie when she disappeared, but we believe it was still in her possession,” the authorities said.

“We continue to ask for the community’s help to find Kiely and bring her home to her family.”

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website