Sophie Elizabeth Reeder was 15 years old when she disappeared from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in May 2017, and her case remains unsolved years later. On the night of May 19 into the early morning hours of May 20, Sophie left her home without telling anyone. Her father believed she was asleep when he left the house that morning, but later realized she was gone. When her room was checked, several details stood out: a candle was still burning, around $300 in cash was left behind, and none of her essential belongings appeared to be packed. These details led investigators to believe she did not plan to run away or disappear for a long period of time.
The last confirmed sighting of Sophie comes from surveillance footage recorded around 2 a.m. on May 20, 2017. The video shows her walking alone along Davie Boulevard, not far from her home. She was wearing a short black dress, a brown faux-fur coat, red sneakers, and white headphones. At one point, a police vehicle passes her on the road, but there is no interaction. This footage is the final known visual confirmation of Sophie’s whereabouts.
Sophie had two cell phones at the time she disappeared. Neither phone has been used since that night. One of the phones reportedly last pinged in a nearby residential area later that morning before going silent. There have been no calls, messages, or social media activity from Sophie since the day she vanished, which investigators consider highly unusual for a teenager.
As the investigation unfolded, police looked into Sophie’s online activity and social connections. It was discovered that she spent a significant amount of time online and may have interacted with adults through certain websites. Investigators explored the possibility that she had planned to meet someone or had been targeted by an online predator, though no direct evidence has ever confirmed this. About a month after her disappearance, police executed a search warrant at an apartment near her high school and interviewed several adult men. Numerous electronic devices were seized, but no arrest was made and no definitive link to Sophie’s disappearance was established.
Over the years, authorities have considered multiple theories, including abduction, human trafficking, foul play, or an encounter that went wrong after she left home. Despite extensive efforts, no suspects have been publicly named, and no charges have been filed. Law enforcement has repeatedly stated that they do not believe Sophie simply ran away and started a new life, especially given the lack of preparation, the items she left behind, and the complete absence of contact.
Sophie’s family continues to search for answers and keeps her story in the public eye, hoping someone will come forward with information. Her case has been featured in news reports, podcasts, and missing person campaigns. A reward of up to $25,000 is still being offered for information that leads to locating Sophie or making an arrest in connection with her disappearance. As of today, Sophie Reeder is still officially listed as missing.
Anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, is urged to contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
