Police Think Viral TikTok Could Be Vital Clue In 20-Year-Old Abduction Case

Police in Washington state are hoping to find a woman in Mexico who was filmed in a viral TikTok video, thinking she may be a missing person who was abducted when she was four years old in 2003. You can watch the clip below:

Sofia Juarez went missing on 4 February 2003 - one day before her fifth birthday - from Kennewick, Washington, with the disappearance remaining a mystery to this day.

But a TikTok video has given investigators and locals hope that Sofia could still be alive.

Posted to the social media platform last month, it shows a woman speaking in Spanish, saying she believes she is 22 years old and claiming she was kidnapped.

She goes on to say that if her relatives are watching they should come and get her, as she doesn't know where she comes from.

Police have contacted the man who made the video, who has gone back to the city where he interviewed the woman to try to find her.

Kennewick Police Department

As well as the video, police say a 'highly credible' local witness saw a girl who matched Sofia's description crying as she was led away by a stranger. The time of the incident matched the time that she went missing.

Lieutenant Aaron Clem, a spokesperson for the city's police department, told NBC News: "This is one of those cases that everybody in our community knows exactly what they were doing when she went missing."

Lt. Clem, who has worked in the police for 25 years, said that there is hope that they will find Sofia.

He explained: "The ultimate goal is to get her identified and have her voluntarily give us a DNA sample.

"There is enough there that we need to do our due diligence."

A website was launched to help generate interest in the case and raise awareness. So far it has reportedly received about 100 tips, according to Clem.

The website says that Sofia is 'a beacon of sunshine who had a bright and innocent life stolen from her'.

It reads: "Her family, friends and community have lived under a dark cloud since she was taken from us.

"Sofia was, and still is, loved by all who knew her."

Clem is hopeful that the case can be cracked after almost 20 years.

He added: "It would be amazing. It would be great for the family and great for the community.

"Everyone is looking forward to her coming home."

Topics: US News

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. She spent a few years working on festivals and events. Soon realising you can't pay your bills with guestlist, she went back to her roots. In her spare time, Amelia likes music, Liverpool FC, and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

@ameliasward