Missing Persons Investigation Launched After Arizona Girl, 16, Never Returned Home From School

The search for a missing teenage girl in Mesa, Arizona, is ongoing one week after she disappeared, and the last place she was seen was at her school.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday, January 30, that they launched an urgent call for help to find 16-year-old Laila Champagne Garcia.

The MCSO explained in a news release that Garcia was initially reported missing on Tuesday, January 27, when she didn’t return home from Red Mountain High School one day earlier.

“Laila is a student at Red Mountain High School and was last seen at school on January 26th,” authorities said in the release.

The police department added that the “specific clothing Laila was wearing at the time of her disappearance is currently unknown.” Additionally, authorities said that a “potential destination” for Garcia is also unknown.

Police have not shared any suspicions regarding if Garcia was kidnapped or ran away on her own accord. Meanwhile, it appears that her family has not publicly spoken out about her disappearance.

The news release also described Garcia as a Hispanic female who stands at 5-foot-1-inches tall and weighs approximately 100 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes, according to the MCSO.

After Garcia was reported missing, a Mesa Public Schools representative issued a statement to acknowledge her disappearance and reveal how they were handling the situation.

“Mesa Public Schools is aware of the situation involving a student who was reported missing after leaving campus. The safety and well-being of our students is always our highest priority,” the representative said in a statement to People.

The school district went on to say that they are “cooperating fully with local law enforcement as they lead the investigation.”

“Due to student privacy protections and the active nature of the investigation, the district is not able to share additional details at this time,” the statement added.

The spokesperson concluded, “Our thoughts are with the student and her family, and we remain hopeful for her safe return. Red Mountain High School and Mesa Public Schools have not released any official statements tied to Garcia’s disappearance.”

The MCSO did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment when asked about any updates in the case.

The investigation into Garcia’s disappearance remains ongoing. Police are asking that anyone with information about Garcia’s whereabouts or where she was before she went missing contact the MCSO at 602-876-1011.

Garcia was reported missing after The Travel revealed in a June 2024 report that Arizona is the state with the second-largest number of missing people per capita. According to the report, California is the state with the largest population of missing persons. Arizona’s No. 2 spot on the list is important, as the state is just a sixth of the size of the leading state.

Additionally, Arizona’s Grand Canyon has the most missing hikers and search and rescue missions out of all of the national parks in the United States each year. However, the Grand Canyon is not geographically close to Mesa and is about 239 miles away.