It’s a question that has baffled Metro detectives for 25 years.

What happened to 7-year-old Karla Rodriguez?

The little girl disappeared on her way to school in 1999.

Seasoned detectives will tell you that cases involving children hurt the most.

Karla Rodriguez is one of these innocent victims.

She was taken from her family without a trace.

But all these years later, the search continues.

Rosie Rodriguez says, “We are hopeful and believe she is still alive.”

This is a matter that has been under scrutiny for 25 years.

Karla Rodriguez, 7, was last seen near her home at St. Louis and 6th Street on October 20, 1999.

She was known for her independence and would walk the seven blocks to John S. Park Elementary School.

“She had a little bit of freedom, but then she disappears,” said Dan Long, a Las Vegas police investigator.

Long said she wasn’t reported missing for at least 24 hours because her family thought she was at a friend’s house.

The days following the search were exhaustive, Long said.

There were hundreds of officers and volunteers working the phones and combing the surrounding neighborhood.

The case was even featured on the Montel Williams Show five months after Karla’s disappearance.

Dan Long says, “We found ourselves in the desert several times looking for sites where evidence might be found or remains. »

The most promising escape led officers to an apartment building half a mile from Karla’s home.

A pair of bloodhounds led them to a particular unit, where two brothers lived.

Long said detectives found toys in the brothers’ home, but no children lived there, and they found blood on the toilet tank closest to the bathtub, Long said.

Two different dogs did three different searches, and they brought us back to this apartment each time on Santa Paula and the dogs took them to the bathtub each time.

Long says unfortunately a strong cleaning agent was used in the bathroom and scientists were unable to extract the DNA.

The brothers themselves have since died.

One of the brothers seemed to fit the profile of someone capable of doing just that, according to retired FBI agent Todd Tumbleson.

Tumbleson is currently an investigator with the State of Nevada.

He re-examined the case with the agreement of the LVMPD.

Tumbleson hopes that by rebroadcasting the details of Karla’s disappearance, a new witness will come forward.

He said: “If they were afraid of anyone, so many suspicious people died in this case, maybe they are no longer afraid. They just need to be encouraged to come out and give us the information they know.”

Tumbleson says this is the only missing child case he’s ever had.

People have come forward saying they are Karla, and none of them have turned out to be Karla yet, Dan Long said.

Long goes on to say, “They feel like that’s the case, that their family isn’t theirs or that they’re in trouble.”

Karla’s family never gave up hope.

Rosie Rodriguez says: “If anyone has any clues please report it, that’s all we’re asking for, is your help.”

Karla would be 32 years old.

If you know anything about the disappearance of Karla Rodriguez, please contact Crimestoppers at 702-385-5555.