Investigative podcast highlights the vanishing act of Sophie Reeder, a woman who mysteriously vanished in Fort Lauderdale, Florida back in 2017
Sophie Reeder, a 15-year-old girl, vanished on May 20th, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her last known image is a security camera recording of her walking along Davie Boulevard in South Fort Lauderdale at 2:16 a.m.[1][2][3][5] Since then, her whereabouts remain a mystery.
Sophie's aunt, Kirsten Milhorn, has been relentless in her search for answers, expressing concerns that if Sophie is alive, she may be somewhere against her will.[1] Brittany Wallman, a reporter at the Sun Sentinel, has been investigating Sophie's case, walking the route Sophie took on the night of her disappearance to gain insights into her journey.[4]
Sophie's life was not without challenges. She had been experiencing mental health issues and had been in therapy.[11] Her diary entries revealed feelings of being used, unwanted, and lonely.[9] Additionally, she had been skipping school and hanging out with friends her father thought were trouble.[10]
One significant lead in the investigation came from Sophie's diary, which mentioned her exploration of finding 10 sugar daddies.[6] While police found no evidence that Sophie was in direct contact with anyone on a sugar daddy website, they did discover something else in her social media that led Brittany to believe Sophie had become involved in the world of commercial sex.[7]
The question of why police did not search Leonard Jennings's apartment sooner has been raised, as Sophie's phone pinged near his apartment and she had called Jennings a number of times.[8] Jennings, who had 31 felony charges, nine felony convictions, and three imprisonments, mostly for drugs, theft, and assaults, lived in the apartment at the time of Sophie's disappearance.[12]
Jennings, who is no longer considered a suspect in Sophie's disappearance, still resides in Fort Lauderdale. Sgt. Don Geiger, who worked in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department's narcotics unit at the time of Sophie's disappearance, has a theory about what happened to Sophie at Leonard Jennings's apartment on May 20, 2017.[13] He believes it may have been an accidental overdose. However, police have not found definitive evidence that Sophie left Leonard Jennings's apartment alive on that day, or that she did not.[14]
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for credible information that leads to the recovery of Sophie Reeder.[8] If you have any information about her disappearance, please call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 954-828-6677.
Brittany's investigation into Sophie's case is part of the Sun Sentinel's year-long project on sex trafficking in Florida.[11] She has interviewed several of Sophie's friends for her article on the case and also spoke with Leonard Jennings.[11]
Sophie's family, including her father, Patrick Reeder, and her mother, have spent years trying to find their daughter on their own and with the help of private detectives.[11] Reeder believes the professionals are not doing their best job possible to get an end result that he wants in finding Sophie.[11]
As the fifth anniversary of Sophie's disappearance approaches, the case remains open and active. Fort Lauderdale police have not forgotten Sophie, and they continue to seek information on her whereabouts.[15] If you have any leads or information, please contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
To learn more about Sophie and other missing individuals, visit DatelineMissingInAmerica.com. If you have a missing person case you think they should cover in the future, submit it on their website.
- In her search for answers, Sophie's aunt, Kirsten Milhorn, has expressed concerns that if Sophie is alive, she may be somewhere against her will, reflecting the importance of mental health and women's health in such circumstances.
- Brittany Wallman, a reporter at the Sun Sentinel, has been investigating Sophie's case, delving into the realms of general news, crime and justice, and education and self-development to shed light on the mystery surrounding her disappearance.
- Sophie's diary entries reveal a struggle with feelings of being unwanted and lonely, indicating a need for health and wellness, fitness and exercise, and support in sexual health matters that might have been overlooked.
- The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is offering a reward for credible information leading to the recovery of Sophie Reeder, emphasizing the importance of nutrition in maintaining overall health and vitality.
- Fort Lauderdale Police Department continues to seek information on Sophie's whereabouts and has not forgotten her case, showcasing their commitment to ensuring justice for all, including men's health and victims of crime.
