A friend is speaking out after a California teen disappeared over the weekend while attending a campground party with a group of people.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, 16-year-old Kiely Rodni was last seen Saturday at around 12:30 a.m., close to the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee. She left the campground after attending a “large party that night, alongside more than 100 young adults,” according to ABC News.
Police said that the teen’s vehicle, described as a 2013 silver Honda CRV with a California tag, 8YUR127, is also missing.
Samantha Smith, 18, told The Independent that she spoke with Kiely after midnight on Saturday and was the last person to talk with her before she vanished.
“At 12:36 a.m. 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 told the outlet on Monday.
Police told The Independent that Kiely’s phone was shut off at some time after midnight, although they didn’t confirm whether Samantha was the last person who spoke with her.
‼️MISSING PERSON – Community Help Needed‼️We need your help in locating missing 16-year-old Kiely Rodni who was last seen near the Prosser Family Campground, in Truckee on 8/6. If you have any information contact the Placer County Sheriff’s Office immediately: 530-886-5375. pic.twitter.com/URhW4CGzge
— Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) August 7, 2022
Samantha reportedly said she got separated from Kiely as the crowd grew bigger at the party.
“I knew it was a big party but it was supposed to be just the community. The party started to grow past the [number] of people that were supposed to be there,” Samantha said. “There were college kids and people from the Bay area coming and I got a bad feeling about it but didn’t really think much of it.”
The pair met up later at around 11 p.m., Samantha said, to charge their phones in Kiely’s vehicle. Kiely was supposed to give her a ride home, but Samantha said she changed her mind after noticing her friend appeared intoxicated.
“Right now we believe that it is an abduction case … she was in no state to drive and she wouldn’t have made it far or would have crashed,” Samantha added.
DailyMail reports that Kiely’s family manages The Lost Trail Lodge, a hotel located at the property where they live. Kiely reportedly disappeared around 12 miles from the property.
Kiely is described as a white female who stands 5-feet-7-inches tall and weighs around 115 pounds. She has blonde hair, hazel eyes, and a nose ring. She was last seen wearing green Dickies pants and a black tank top.
Anyone with information about Kiely’s whereabouts should contact the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at 530-886-5375. An anonymous tip line has been set up for the case at 530-581-6320 (press option 7).
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Featured image via Placer County Sheriff’s Office]
