'I told her to be safe': Missing California teen Kiely Rodni's mom Lindsey Rodni-Nieman reveals LAST conversation
PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: California authorities are urging dozens of attendees at a weekend high school graduation party to reveal any information about a girl who went missing after attending the event. 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who had just graduated from high school with honors, vanished after attending a party with other teens and young adults at the Prosser Family Campground in Tahoe National Forest, near the border of California and Nevada.
Police said that they have received over 100 tips so far. A Facebook post by Placer County Sheriff's Office described Rodni as "a Caucasian female, 5’7”, 115 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes." The post added that she was "last seen wearing green Dickies pants, a black tank top, numerous piercings and jewelry, including a nose ring."
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Rodni was last seen on Saturday, August 6, at about 12:30 am while at the party, investigators from the Placer County Sheriff's Office confirmed. They have been handling the case as a possible abduction. Rodni's mother, Lindsey Rodni-Nieman, has now shared the last message she received from her daughter.
Lindsey told ABC News that her daughter told her she would be leaving the party about 45 minutes before going "straight home". "I told her to be safe and that I loved her. And she said, 'OK, mom, I love you, too,'" Lindsey said. Angela Musallam, public information officer for the Placer County Sheriff's Office, has said that Rodni's phone died and "became virtually untraceable shortly after."
Lindsey woke up the next morning and found that Rodni had not returned. "I called her and sent her texts, too, and she didn't answer," Lindsey said. "That's when I knew something was wrong." Lindsey said she does not believe her daughter could have run away, and that "it was already so out of character" that she did not respond to her worried mother's messages.
Rodni's friend Sami Smith was the last person to speak with her at the gathering. "She was having a fun time at a party, just being a teenager," Smith said. "Everything she drank, I drank out of, and there was nothing that seemed off about her," she added. "I never expected this to happen ever. Nobody in this town did."
Placer County Sheriff's Office shared a video on Facebook, in which Rodni's mother said, "We just want her home. We're so scared, and we miss her so much, and we love her so much. Kiely we love you, and if you see this, please just come home. I want nothing more than to hug you."
Meanwhile, a surveillance video has captured Rodni, who was spotted prior to going missing. Placer County Sheriff's Office posted a picture on Facebook, writing, "Detectives have located surveillance video from a local business in Truckee, where Kiely was spotted on August 5th at 6:08 p.m. prior to her going missing. Kiely was last seen wearing a black spaghetti strap bodysuit, green Dickies brand pants with a black grommet belt, and black Vans shoes." The caption added, "We continue to search for any information that will lead us to Kiely. We have set up an email for online tips: sheriff_tahoeinvesttips@placer.ca.gov. Our tip line is still open for anyone who wants to leave a voice message: (530) 581-6320 Option 7.